Remaining members of Iran women’s football squad arrive in Malaysia

2026-03-11 - 07:45

Members of the Iranian women’s national football team arriving at KLIA in Sepang today. (EPA Images pic) KUALA LUMPUR: The Iranian embassy in Malaysia has confirmed that the remaining members of the country’s women’s football squad, which competed in the Asian Cup in Australia, arrived in Malaysia this morning. The embassy said the players are expected to return to Iran, depending on flight availability and the reopening of Iran’s airspace. “They want to return home,” it told Bernama, adding that the players are in good health. Footage of the squad’s arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport circulated on social media earlier in the day. Iranian passport holders do not require a visa for stays in Malaysia of up to 30 days. Seven squad members have sought asylum in Australia, citing fears of persecution after refusing to sing the national anthem before their opening match on March 3. One has since changed her mind. According to reports quoting Australia’s immigration minister Tony Burke, local police moved the players to a safe location and they were told they could remain the country. The players had initially been scheduled to return home after the tournament, but concerns over their safety grew after the anthem incident. The move drew criticism from some commentators in Iran, with one conservative commentator reportedly labelling the players as “wartime traitors” and calling for harsh punishment. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, urged the team to return “To Iran’s women’s football team: don’t worry – Iran awaits you with open arms,” he wrote on X. Separate reports said the players later sang and saluted the national anthem during their remaining two matches in the tournament.