The head of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, has cast doubt on Iran’s participation in this summer’s men’s World Cup, citing recent incidents involving the women’s national team during the Asian Cup in Australia.
Taj told Iranian state television that several female players had been pressured into seeking asylum, questioning whether Iran should send its national team to the United States, where the men’s World Cup group matches are scheduled in Los Angeles and Seattle.
During the Women’s Asian Cup, five Iranian players, including captain Zahra Ghanbari, left the team hotel at night to request asylum from Australian authorities. Reports indicate at least two more team members applied to remain later. Some players had been criticised by Iranian state media for not singing the national anthem before their opening match against South Korea, although all players participated fully in the subsequent games. Iran lost both remaining matches and were eliminated after a defeat to the Philippines.
Taj blamed external pressures, including comments by US President Donald Trump welcoming the players as refugees, saying these actions undermined optimism about the World Cup in America. He described the players’ departure as coercion, alleging that Australian authorities intervened at the hotel and at the airport, obstructing the team from leaving.
The federation chief referenced wider tensions, including an alleged airstrike on a school in Minab that killed 160 girls, and claimed similar “hostage” conditions were now being imposed on the players abroad.
Meanwhile, crowds gathered outside the Gold Coast stadium for Iran’s match against the Philippines, chanting slogans calling for regime change and urging the release of the players. Taj added that at the airport, the squad faced difficulties boarding their flight amid the asylum requests.
