Asylum-Seeking Iranian Women Footballers Join Brisbane Roar Training After Asian Cup Exit

Two members of Iran’s women’s football squad who sought asylum in Australia have been pictured training with a local A-League Women club as they begin a new chapter in the country.

Midfielder Fatemeh Pasandideh and defender Atefeh Ramezanizadeh were among seven members of Iran’s delegation granted humanitarian visas amid fears of possible persecution if they returned home after competing in the women’s Asian Cup in Australia.

The two players were seen training with Brisbane Roar, with images shared by the club on Instagram on Monday showing them meeting the squad and taking part in shooting drills.

Fatemeh and Atefeh were all smiles as they posed in the club’s colours alongside the women’s elite team.

Brisbane Roar, which competes in Australia’s top-tier A-League Women, welcomed “Fatemeh and Atefeh” on Instagram, adding a lioness emoji in tribute to the nickname of the Iranian footballers.

"Thank you for everything," wrote Ramezanizadeh, 33, under the post on Instagram.

This marks their first public appearance since being granted asylum, with photos showing the pair integrating with the club’s elite setup.

Concerns over their safety had emerged earlier after the players did not sing their national anthem before their opening match on the Gold Coast in Queensland.

Why did some Iranian footballers reverse their asylum decision and return home?

Iranian state media subsequently labelled them as "wartime traitors", with the team’s campaign coinciding with U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran.

Five other members of the group later changed their decision and opted to return home, despite initially being granted asylum.

The development came as the rest of Iran’s football delegation departed Malaysia for Oman, bringing to a close a turbulent episode following their elimination from the Women’s Asian Cup, after which Australia’s government had granted humanitarian visas to multiple members of the squad.

Pasandideh, 21, also shared a photo on Instagram with FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis in Brisbane, captioning it “everything will be fine”.

Meanwhile, their former teammates were seen at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Monday evening checking in for an Oman Air flight, though their final destination remained unclear.