Five players of the Iranian women’s football team have pleaded with the Australian government to grant them asylum following their elimination from the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup in Queensland.

The players refused to sing their national anthem before their first match against South Korea, last week.

According to the BBC, the five players have taken refuge in a safe house in Australia following their elimination from the tournament. A relative of one of the players also told Australia-based ABC News, on condition of anonymity, that while the police are protecting the players, they intend to claim asylum.

U.S. President, Donald Trump, took to his Truth Social platform on Monday to urge the Australian government to grant the players asylum, stating that it will be a “terrible humanitarian mistake” to allow the players return to Iran, adding that, “The US will take them if you won’t.”

An hour later, Mr Trump made another post revealing that he had spoken to Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, who confirmed that “five have already been taken care of, and that “the rest are on their way”.

Confirming that Australia has agreed to grant the five players humanitarian visas, the Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, who flew to Brisbane to meet the players, said during a news conference on Monday that he has told the five players “that they are welcome to stay in Australia, that they are safe here, and they should feel at home here”.

Mr Burke also stated that the remaining Iranian players are in a hotel on the Gold Coast, adding that he had also offered them the chance to stay in Australia.