The Iranian women's national football team arrived at Istanbul Airport on March 17, 2026, en route home after most members withdrew asylum applications filed in Australia during the Women's Asian Cup. Wearing national team tracksuits, the players were seen walking through arrivals, having transited via Oman and Kuala Lumpur following their tournament exit.

Footage from Turkish agency DHA captured the group departing under police escort to a city hotel, with plans to fly back to Iran on March 18. One player expressed to AFP in Kuala Lumpur, "I am missing my family," highlighting personal motivations behind the return.

The saga began when seven delegation members sought asylum in Australia last week, branded "traitors" at home for not singing the national anthem before their opening match. Australia granted humanitarian visas to six players and one staffer amid fears of persecution, but five reconsidered and withdrew, leaving only two behind. The episode unfolded against US-Israel strikes on Iran, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's killing, adding geopolitical tension.

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Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf welcomed the returnees on X, calling them "children of the homeland" embraced by the people. The team, eliminated from the Asian Cup over a week ago, now heads back amid national scrutiny of their anthem protest and defection drama.

This incident underscores challenges for Iranian women athletes under strict Islamic codes, balancing international competition with domestic pressures. While two remain in Australia seeking refuge, the majority's homeward journey signals loyalty or familial pull prevailing over exile. Zahra Khajavi, Iranian national team goalkeeper, in action, representing the squad's on-field presence amid off-field controversies.​

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