Five Iran women players seeking asylum in Australia after AFC Asian Cup return home, two players remain

Members of the Iran women's team have returned home after seeking asylum in Australia during their recent trip for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. The group travelled from Australia via Istanbul before heading toward the eastern Turkish city of Igdir. From there, they completed the final leg by road, crossing into Iran through the Gurbulak Border Gate after clearing passport checks.

Scenes at the airport in Igdir showed players carrying their luggage as they boarded transport for the



border journey. As per media reports, one player briefly acknowledged cameras with a wave before departure, moments before the squad began the final stretch of travel.

Their return follows a complicated situation that unfolded in Australia, where several members of the travelling party had initially applied for asylum. Authorities in Australia granted humanitarian visas to a group that included players and a staff member, citing concerns about their potential safety if they went back to Iran.