Members of the Iranian women’s national soccer team outside the airport after they arrived in the eastern city of Igdir, after five players withdrew the asylum claims they had lodged in Australia over safety concerns about returning home due to not singing the national anthem at a women’s Asian Cup match earlier this month, in Turkey, March 18, 2026. REUTERS/Ali Ihsan Ozturk
DUBAI, March 18 : Players from Iran’s women national soccer team and their technical staff returned to their country on Wednesday, the semi-official Fars news agency reported, after refusing asylum in Australia where they played in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
They were welcomed by officials and members of the public at the Turkey-Iran Bazargan border, Fars news added.
