Iranian Women Footballers Granted Asylum Train In Brisbane

Last Updated:March 17, 2026, 13:28 IST

Iranian footballers Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh join Brisbane Roar’s A-League Women team after seeking asylum in Australia.

Two Iranian women footballers who were granted asylum by Australia and accepted the same were seen training in Brisbane. They joined practice with a professional club in Brisbane in their first public appearance since they accepted asylum Down Under.

Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were all smiles in the club’s colours as they posed with the women’s elite team in pictures shared on Instagram by Brisbane Roar on Monday.

The update came as the rest of Iran’s football delegation departed Malaysia for Oman, bringing to a close a turbulent episode in which Australia’s government granted humanitarian visas to multiple members of the women’s team after they were knocked out of the Women’s Asian Cup.

Seven footballers accepted the asylum offer, but five later reversed their decisions and said that they would return to Iran.

Brisbane Roar, competing 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.

“We remain committed to providing a supportive environment for them whilst they navigate the next stages,” Brisbane Roar CEO Kaz Patafta wrote.

Both women left comments on the post. “Thank you for everything,” Ramezanisadeh wrote.

The club declined to comment further, directing all inquiries to Australia’s Department of Home Affairs. Last week, the Roar shared a social media statement offering the women ‘a place to train, play and belong’.

Officials said that the footballers have been relocated to a secure, undisclosed location and are receiving government support. While they have not given interviews, Pasandideh shared an Instagram post on Monday featuring herself with Jill Ellis, captioned: “Everything will be fine.”

Iran’s women’s team had arrived Down Under to compete in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup before the outbreak of the Iran war on February 28 and drew global attention when multiple footballers stood silently during their first game’s national anthem in a gesture that was interpreted amidst fears for their safety.

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