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3h ago

Australia Grants Humanitarian Visas to Five Iran Women’s National Team Players Under Police Protection

Authorities say the same offer remains for the rest of the squad, with welfare monitoring continuing for players still under delegation control.

Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke poses with Fatemeh Pasandideh, Mona Hamoudi, Atefeh Ramezanizadeh, Zahra Ghanbari and Zahra Sarbali, the five women from the Iranian women’s soccer team who were granted humanitarian visas, in Queensland, Australia, March 9, 2026. @Tony_Burke on X/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY
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Overview

  • Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Australian Federal Police moved five players to a safe location, met them there, and finalized their humanitarian visas shortly after 1:30 a.m. local time.
  • The players identified by officials and media are Zahra Sarbali Alishah, Mona Hamoudi, Zahra Ghanbari, Fatemeh Pasandideh, and Atefeh Ramezanizadeh.
  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the women are safe in Australia and invited other squad members to seek the same assistance, while acknowledging some may hesitate due to concerns for family safety.
  • The case followed the team’s silence during Iran’s anthem before their opening match against South Korea and later anthem singing with a military-style salute, after state TV figures denounced them as “wartime traitors.”
  • International attention intensified as President Donald Trump urged asylum and spoke with Albanese, FIFA and FIFPRO said they were monitoring the players’ welfare, and supporters reported SOS signals and staged protests in Queensland.