WANA (Mar 10) – While Iran is engaged in a war with the United States and Israel and the country’s domestic atmosphere is shaped by wartime conditions, an incident involving Iran’s national women’s football team has turned into a new topic in some foreign media outlets and among opposition groups.

 

According to reports, five players from Iran’s national women’s football team left the team’s hotel after the end of the Asian Cup tournament and are seeking asylum—an issue that also prompted an unusual reaction from U.S. President Donald Trump.

 

Observers say that at a time when national unity in Iran has reportedly strengthened amid the war, some foreign media and opposition groups are attempting to use this sporting issue to construct a political narrative and create divisions in public opinion.

 

Trump’s direct intervention in the matter and its wide coverage in international media have also been interpreted within this context.

Trump’s Support for Iran’s Women Footballers. Social media / WANA News Agency

In a statement addressed to the Australian prime minister, Trump called on Australia not to return the Iranian women’s football players and urged the government to grant them asylum. He claimed that sending them back to Iran could pose serious risks to their safety.

 

The remarks came after reports that several members of the team did not sing Iran’s national anthem before their first match. However, in their following games, the players participated in the anthem ceremony and stood in respect during the national anthem.

 

Following the incident, some foreign media outlets and opposition groups intensified their coverage of the story. According to analysts, the aim of this media campaign was to amplify a limited sporting incident and turn it into a political issue, potentially fueling polarization within Iran during wartime.

 

At the same time, several opposition figures also reacted to the developments. Reza Pahlavi, an Iranian opposition figure, quickly voiced support for the players and described them as “brave.” Analysts say such statements appear aimed at turning a sporting incident into a political symbol and promoting a broader narrative against Iran.

 

Ismail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commented on recent media reports and campaigns by the U.S. and Australia regarding members of Iran’s women’s football team, encouraging them to return: “Iran welcomes you with open arms. Don’t worry. Come back home.”

In a post on X, Baghaei highlighted that Western forces killed 170 innocent Iranian schoolgirls in Minab in a two-stage Tomahawk missile attack and are now attempting to use the women athletes as “hostages under the guise of rescuing them.” He described these actions as “hypocrisy and audacity.”

 

Meanwhile, the Iranian women’s national football team has left the host city of the Asian Cup and arrived in Sydney a few hours ago. Reports indicate that the team has missed its international flight back to Iran and will have to wait for the next available option.

 

It is noted that five players left their hotel yesterday to apply for asylum, and rumors suggest one or two more team members may follow, though this has not yet been confirmed by team officials.