Australia Grants Iranian Soccer Players Asylum After Trump Call to Prime Minister

Trump offered asylum to the Iranian team after hearing that players were threatened for not singing the Iranian national anthem.

Australia's Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke (C) poses with five Iranian women soccer players who have been granted asylum in Australia, in an undisclosed location on March 10, 2026. Australia Ministry of Home Affairs via AP

The Australian Labor government has granted asylum to five players from the Iranian women’s soccer team following a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

On March 10, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the women were granted humanitarian visas to avoid persecution in their home country for refusing to sing the Iranian national anthem at one of their Asian Cup games, currently being held in Australia.