President Trump on Monday blasted Australia for refusing to grant asylum to members of Iran’s national women’s soccer team, offering to allow the players to come to the U.S. if Canberra doesn’t change course.
“Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed,” Trump wrote on TRUTH Social. “Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The U.S. will take them if you won’t. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Several members of the team are currently in Australian custody for their own protection after they remained silent during Iran’s national anthem at an international event last month, according to CNN.
The players have not publicly said their silence was meant as a protest, but the move has raised fears that they could face retaliation from Iranian authorities if they return home.
Athletes who challenge or appear to defy the Islamic Republic have historically faced severe punishment, including bans, arrests, and worse.
The controversy comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following joint U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran’s ruling establishment has since selected a new supreme leader from the Khamenei family, as the country’s leadership scrambles to stabilize the regime during the ongoing conflict with the United States.
"Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The U.S. will take them if you won’t…" – @POTUS pic.twitter.com/OTIsmVavJR
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 9, 2026
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