Members of the Iran women’s national football team have arrived in Turkey following a dramatic reversal by several players who withdrew their asylum applications in Australia and opted to return home.
The delegation landed at Istanbul Airport on Tuesday, with footage from Turkish news agency DHA showing players dressed in national tracksuits walking through the arrivals terminal.
The team had traveled via Oman and Kuala Lumpur after departing Australia, where they had been participating in the Asian Cup.
According to reports, the players were later escorted by police to a hotel in Istanbul, where they were temporarily accommodated ahead of their onward journey.
Turkish authorities are expected to facilitate their return to Iran on Wednesday.
The situation follows a tense period in which seven members of the delegation reportedly sought asylum in Australia after facing backlash at home for refusing to sing the national anthem during their opening match at the Women’s Asian Cup.
Their actions drew strong reactions domestically, with some labeling them as dissenters, while rights groups raised concerns about possible pressure on athletes.
One of the players had earlier expressed emotional distress, telling AFP at Kuala Lumpur Airport that she missed her family, highlighting the personal dimension behind the difficult decision to return.
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Out of the group, only two individuals are believed to have remained in Australia after the others reversed their asylum requests.
Reacting to the development, senior Iranian political figures have publicly framed the players’ return as a positive outcome. Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, described the athletes and technical staff as “children of the homeland,” stating that they had resisted external influence and pressure.
However, human rights organizations continue to allege that Iranian athletes abroad may face indirect pressure, including concerns over the safety of family members or potential consequences back home if they defect or speak out against authorities.
Previous claims have also suggested that Iranian officials accused Australia of exerting influence on the players, while international attention—including comments from global political figures—had brought further spotlight to the situation.
As the team prepares to return home, the episode has once again highlighted the intersection of sport, politics, and personal freedom, drawing global scrutiny to the challenges faced by athletes representing nations amid broader geopolitical tensions.