At noon, local time in Sweden, the Iranian national team landed at Sydney airport after leaving the Gold Coast in Australia earlier in the day.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke then stated that more of the squad have asked to stay in Australia and, according to ABC News, two people have sought asylum.
The rest of the squad have now left Australia to travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Earlier on Tuesday, it was reported that protesters had tried to stop the Iranian players' bus at the hotel on the Gold Coast, including lying in front of the vehicle, before departing for the local airport.
“Save our girls, save our girls,” a group of people were heard chanting.
“Very stressed”
When the war in Iran broke out on February 28, the Iranian women's national football team had already been in Australia for a few days to play in the Asian Championships. The team was eliminated after three straight losses.
After the exodus, five players made their way to a room at the players' hotel where they were able to speak with Naghmeh Danai, who works at Australia's immigration department.
They were very stressed. They didn't know what to do, they were worried about their family, their assets in Iran, what was the best decision to make right now: "What if we stay here and lose all our assets in Iran?" Naghmeh Danai told ABC News.
The players were helped by police to leave the hotel. Late Monday evening, local time in Sweden, it became known that they had been granted asylum in Australia.
"They are safe and welcome here," said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
On Tuesday night, local time, he received a call from US President Donald Trump, who had previously called on Australia in a post on Truth Social to grant asylum to the players in the Iranian national team.
"We had a very positive conversation. He was concerned about the Iranian women on the soccer team and their well-being and safety if they were to return home," Albanese said.
“War traitor”
At the opening match of the championship, the players did not sing the national anthem, which led to them being labeled as "war traitors" by state television in Iran.
According to Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's overthrown Shah, the team risks "fatal consequences" if it returns to its homeland.
Pahlavi has been pointed to in some circles as a possible interim leader in Iran if the regime falls.
