Iran lost 0–2 to the Philippines, officially exiting the tournament held in Australia. Controversy erupted when the players did not sing the Iranian national anthem in a previous match, an act many saw as a protest against the government when the Iranian women's team remained silent as the anthem played in the opening match.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated that the Australian government expresses solidarity with the Iranian female athletes amidst concerns for their safety if they return home.
About 50 protesters in the Gold Coast blocked the team bus after the match. Many carried the Lion and Sun flag, a symbol associated with the exiled Iranian monarchy before the 1979 revolution and often used in current anti-government protest movements.
An online petition calls on the Australian government to allow the players to seek protection if they wish to stay. The petition argues that the athletes are in a “no-win situation”: returning to Iran risks being labeled traitors, or staying and putting their families at home in danger.
Some sources said the players were under strict surveillance during their time in Australia. Phones were monitored, movements restricted, and athletes had to sign commitments not to seek asylum.
Iranian sports journalist Raha Pourbakhsh said players received warnings about potential career termination or imprisonment if they showed acts of protest against the regime, as the international community continues to call for pressuring the Iranian government on human rights issues.
The situation has become more sensitive as Iranian state television broadcast a warning message that during wartime, those seen as traitors could face severe penalties. These concerns grow as the Middle East is tense and world leaders call for de-escalation to avoid a full-scale conflict.
Some Australian MPs have proposed that the government consider granting asylum status to the players if they request protection.
Sources indicate the Iranian team's current plan is to fly to Turkey before continuing back to Iran.
