Australia on Tuesday agreed to provide visas to five of Iran's women's soccer team players to stay in the country after they sought asylum fearing persecution in their home nation. The announcement came after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had spoken to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the Iran women's soccer team in Australia following reports that the players had requested asylum. "I was able to tell five members of the Iranian women's soccer team that they are welcome to stay in Australia, that they are safe here, and they should feel at home here," Burke told reporters. The Iranian women's soccer team are in Australia for the Asian Cup tournament. Australia granted emergency humanitarian visas to over 20 members of the Afghanistan women's cricket team after the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

Source: The Telegraph March 09, 2026 23:15 UTC