Four more people, including three players on Iran's women's national soccer team and one staffer, who became embroiled in controversy for not singing the national anthem at an international tournament in Australia, have withdrawn their bids for asylum. Only two of the seven who had expressed an intent to seek asylum with the Australian government remain.
On the 15th (local time), according to AFP and Bloomberg, the day before, Australia's Home Affairs Department said three players on Iran's women's national soccer team decided to drop their asylum bids and return home. They reportedly left Sydney, Australia, for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the night before.
Later, Iran's state-run IRNA reported that team captain Zahra Ghanbari also withdrew her asylum application. It added that after traveling from Australia to Malaysia, Ghanbari is scheduled to return to Iran.
However, the Australian government has not yet commented on Ghanbari's withdrawal of her asylum bid.
As a result, of the six Iranian players and one staffer who recently applied for asylum, five withdrew their decisions, leaving only two in Australia.
Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement, "Last night, three players on Iran's women's national soccer team decided to join the journey back to Iran with the rest of the team," adding, "After informing Australian authorities of their decision, they were given multiple opportunities to discuss it."
He added, "The Australian government did everything it could to ensure they had the chance to secure a safe future here," and "(However, they) made an incredibly difficult decision."
The main body of Iran's squad, which left Australia on the 9th, and the four players and staffers who later withdrew their asylum bids are currently staying in Kuala Lumpur.
Earlier, 26 members of Iran's national team arrived in Australia on Oct. 28, before war broke out among the United States, Israel, and Iran, to compete in the 2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Asian Cup.
In their group-stage opener against Korea on the 2nd, Iran's players remained silent and did not sing when the anthem was played, and Iran's state broadcaster denounced them as "wartime traitors."
After that, in the next two group-stage matches, Iran's players all saluted and sang the anthem.
But concerns were raised internationally about their safety, and U.S. President Donald Trump also urged the Australian government to accept asylum bids from Iran's players.
The Australian government moved some Iranian players who requested protection to safe locations, interviewed them, and issued humanitarian visas. With this visa, they can stay in Australia for 12 months and apply for permanent residency.
Tasnim News Agency called the withdrawal of asylum by some of the national team players "a humiliating failure of the U.S. and Australian project and another failure for President Trump."