The Iran women’s national football team remains at the centre of controversy during the ongoing AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia after their silent protest during the national anthem sparked backlash from state-aligned figures back home and raised concerns over the players’ safety.
Ahead of their second group-stage match against Australia, the Iranian players sang the national anthem and performed a military-style salute – a noticeable change from their earlier stance. According to reports, the shift likely came under pressure from Iranian authorities.
Watch| Members of the Iranian women’s national football team perform a military salute ahead of their Asian Cup clash against Australia. The gesture was a tribute to the Iranian armed forces, who are currently defending the country against US and Israeli strikes.#IranWar pic.twitter.com/QZi5kinMRt
— Al-Jarmaq News (@Aljarmaqnetnews) March 6, 2026
Earlier, before their opening match against South Korea on March 2 at Cbus Super Stadium, all eleven Iranian players and head coach Marziyeh Jafari stood silently during the playing of the national anthem.
The act was widely interpreted as a protest amid escalating tensions in Iran following reports of the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a major military escalation and a government-enforced 40-day mourning period.
The gesture quickly drew criticism from state-linked voices in Iran. Iranian television presenter Mohammad Reza Shahbazi labelled the players “wartime traitors” and called for severe punishment, accusing them of showing a lack of patriotism during a period of national conflict.
Iran suffered a 4–0 defeat to hosts Australia in their second match and must now beat the Philippines in their final group-stage fixture to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.
The situation has also sparked international concern over the players’ safety if they return home. Refugee Council chief executive Paul Power warned that the team could face risks following the backlash in Iran.
As the tournament continues, the Iranian women’s team finds itself balancing the pressures of international competition with the emotional weight of events unfolding in their homeland and concerns for the safety of their families.