The Iranian Embassy in Malaysia has confirmed that the remaining members of the Islamic Republic women’s football squad who participated in the Asian Cup campaign in Australia arrived in Malaysia this morning.
Footage of the squad’s arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport circulated on social media earlier in the day.
According to the embassy, the players are expected to return to Iran, subject to flight availability and the reopening of Iran's airspace.
“They want to return home,” the embassy told Bernama when contacted.
The development follows reports that seven other members of the team have sought asylum in Australia, citing fears of persecution upon returning to Iran after refusing to sing the national anthem before their opening match of the tournament on March 3.
According to reports quoting Australia’s Immigration Minister Tony Burke, the players were moved to a safe location by Australian police.
Burke was also reported as saying that the remaining members of the squad had been informed that they were welcome to remain in Australia.
The players had initially been scheduled to return home after the tournament, but supporters had raised concerns over their safety following the team’s decision not to sing the national anthem ahead of their match against South Korea.
The move drew criticism from some commentators in Iran, with one conservative commentator reportedly accusing the team of being “wartime traitors” and calling for harsh punishment.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, Esmaeil Baghaei, on Tuesday urged the players to return home.
“To Iran’s women’s football team: don’t worry - Iran awaits you with open arms,” he said on X.
Separate reports said the players later sang and saluted the national anthem during their remaining two matches in the tournament.
When asked about the condition and well-being of the players currently in Malaysia, the embassy said: “They are very good, very well.”
Iranian passport holders who are travelling to Malaysia do not require a visa for stays of up to 30 days.
Iran mulling withdrawing from World Cup
In a related development, the president of the Iranian Football Federation (FFI) has once again raised the possibility of Iran withdrawing from the men's World Cup.
"What reasonable person would send their national team to the US if the World Cup is going to be as political as it was in Australia?" Mehdi Taj told the Isna news agency, reported German news agency dpa.
The World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada starts on June 11. Iran is to play Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt in the group stage, with all matches being played in the US amid conflict escalation between the two countries and also Israel.
Iran is among several countries whose citizens cannot enter the US but US President Donald Trump has said that exceptions will be made for athletes, officials and family members at the World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
However, the US has already refused visas to Taj and at least six other FFI officials for the World Cup draw in Washington last December.
Last week, Taj had already indicated that, following the attacks by the US and Israel, Iran was not expected to be "hopeful about the World Cup”.
Trump, meanwhile, said that he "really didn't care" whether Iran participated.
- Bernama
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