Trump Joins Growing Calls For Australia To Protect Iran's Women Football Team: 'They'll Be Killed'

Last Updated:March 09, 2026, 20:08 IST

There have been growing calls for Australia to provide refuge to the Iranian women's football team after their refusal to sing the national anthem during the Asian cup.

US President Donald Trump has joined growing calls for Australia to provide asylum to the Iranian women’s football team as they prepared to return home after refusing to sing the Iranian national anthem ahead of an Asian Cup tournament match last week.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the football team to be forced back to Iran, saying they will most likely be killed. He urged Australian PM Anthony Albanese to provide asylum and even offered US assistance on that matter.

“Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The U.S. will take them if you won’t," he said.

This came after the Iranian football team refused to sing the national anthem before their Asia Cup opener against South Korea, after which the Iranian state media labelled them “wartime traitors" and their actions amounted to the “pinnacle of dishonour".

Their players stood in ​silence when Iran’s anthem was played before their 3-0 loss to South Korea ⁠on March 2, days after the US and Israel launched devastating attacks on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The team was eliminated on Sunday after losing 2-0 to the Philippines and faced the prospect of returning home.

READ MORE: Shush! Iranian Women Refuse To Sing National Anthem Ahead Of AFC Asian Cup 2026 Curtain-Riser

Concerns Over Iranian Football Team

Safety concerns over the Iranian women’s football team intensified after fans waved the pre-1979 Iranian ​flag, booed the national anthem and tried to prevent the team coach from leaving afterwards, chanting “Save our girls!" after the Philippines match.

More than 66,000 people have also signed a petition calling ⁠on the Australian government to ensure the players, who are on the Gold Coast in Queensland, do not leave “while credible fears for ​their safety remain".

News world Trump Joins Growing Calls For Australia To Protect Iran's Women Football Team: 'They'll Be Killed'

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