Iran Women’s Football Team Feted in Tehran After Asylum Row
The Iranian women’s national football team received a hero’s welcome in Tehran on Thursday after returning from Australia, where several players had sought asylum during the Women’s Asian Cup.
Six players and one staff member initially applied for asylum earlier this month, citing political pressure after they were criticized for not singing the national anthem before their opening match.
Five of those athletes later withdrew their claims and returned home, arriving in Tehran alongside captain Zahra Ghanbari and the rest of the squad after a long journey through Malaysia, Oman, and Turkiye.
Thousands of supporters gathered in Valiasr Square, waving Iranian flags and cheering the team.
A giant billboard displayed the slogan ‘My Choice. My Homeland’ alongside images of the players in national kit and hijabs saluting the flag.
Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj praised the squad’s loyalty, declaring, ‘What is certain is that these athletes are loyal to the homeland, flag, leader and revolution.’
Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani echoed the sentiment, telling the players, ‘All Iranians were waiting for you; welcome to Iran.’
The ceremony featured anthem singing and large AI-generated images of the team projected against national landmarks. While activists accused Iranian authorities of pressuring families to force the women to abandon their asylum bids, officials insisted the players had rejected offers of visas, contracts, and financial incentives abroad in favor of national identity.
Two squad members remain in Australia, but the majority of the team has returned to Iran amid ongoing international concern over the treatment of female athletes in the country.
