Israel commends 'courage' of Iranian women's soccer team as five players granted asylum in Australia

Israel’s Foreign Ministry praised members of Iran’s women’s nationalist shot squad aft they appeared to instrumentality a governmental stance by remaining soundless during their country’s nationalist anthem astatine the Women’s Asian Cup. The amusement of enactment comes arsenic 5 players person secured asylum successful Australia, portion uncertainty surrounds the remaining 21 squad members.

In a connection posted connected X, Israel commended the women connected their "courage," adding that the "world is watching." 

Team Iran listens to nationalist anthems earlier the AFC Women's Asian Cup lucifer against South Korea successful Gold Coast connected March 2, 2026. (Izhar Khan/AFP)

"Sometimes courageousness is silence," the station connected X read. "To the women of Iran’s nationalist [soccer] team, who refused to sing the regime’s anthem, we applaud your courage! Stay safe. The satellite is watching."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The station included a photograph with a akin connection that read, "To the brave Iranian women of the nationalist team, the satellite sees your courage."

The concern involving the Iranian women’s shot squad began aft the squad arrived successful Australia for the tourney past month. The squad was already determination erstwhile the U.S. launched a associated subject cognition with Israel against Iran. 

In the team’s opening lucifer against South Korea, the squad stood soundless during the nationalist anthem arsenic Iranian caput manager Marziyeh Jafari, besides silent, smiled astatine her team. The soundlessness was interpreted by immoderate arsenic an enactment of resistance. But successful the pursuing lucifer against Australia and the consequent lucifer that led to their elimination, the squad sang on and saluted during the nationalist anthem. 

Iran players respond during their nationalist anthem up of the Women's Asian Cup shot lucifer betwixt Iran and the Philippines successful Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026.  (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)

Concern for the squad aft the tourney prompted the Australian Iranian Council to motorboat an online petition urging Australian authorities to "ensure that nary subordinate of Iran’s women’s nationalist shot squad is to depart Australia portion credible fears for their information remain."

21 IRANIAN WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS WEIGH RETURN HOME AFTER 5 GRANTED ASYLUM

President Donald Trump besides weighed in, stating that the U.S. would "take them" if Australia did not assistance them asylum.

Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced connected Tuesday that 5 women were transported from their edifice successful Gold Coast "to a harmless location" by national constabulary officers wherever they aboriginal met with him and began the processing for their humanitarian visas.

"I accidental to the different members of the squad the aforesaid accidental is there," helium said. "Australia has taken the Iranian women’s shot squad into our hearts."

Islamic Republic of Iran players enactment up for the nationalist anthems anterior to the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 lucifer betwixt Islamic Republic of Iran and the Australia Matildas astatine Gold Coast Stadium successful Gold Coast, Australia, connected March 5, 2026. (Albert Perez/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The women granted asylum were blessed for their names and pictures to beryllium published, Burke said, but added that the players wanted to marque wide that they were "not governmental activists."

Protesters attempted to halt the squad autobus from leaving connected Tuesday extracurricular the edifice they were staying. The remaining members of the squad and coaches flew to Sydney Airport, wherever constabulary evicted protesters from the planetary terminal earlier the squad boarded an planetary formation to Kuala Lumpur, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.