Australia has granted asylum to five Iranian women footballers who refused to return to Iran following a tournament visit, citing fears of persecution amid the ongoing US-Israel war on their country. The Iranian women footballers made their asylum applications after the outbreak of war on February 28, 2026 made return to Iran both dangerous and — for women athletes who have long operated under severe restrictions — potentially life-threatening. The Australian government confirmed the grants, making it one of the most high-profile asylum decisions involving the Iranian soccer team in…
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