The Iranian women\u2019s soccer team was in Australia earlier this month to compete in the Women\u2019s Asian Cup. Players were seen refusing to sing their country\u2019s national<\/a> anthem as the U.S. and Israel launched a joint military campaign on the Iranian regime. The players were dubbed “wartime traitors” by an Iranian broadcaster for their decisions during the tournament.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM<\/a><\/p>\n Retired United States soccer player Megan Rapinoe looks on before a SheBelieves Cup match against Colombia at Sports Illustrated Stadium on March 7, 2026 in Harrison, New Jersey.\u00a0 (Brad Smith\/ISI Photos\/USSF\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Australian officials then raced to try to get the players asylum in the country. At least two players stayed in Australia while the rest of the team made it back to Iran.<\/p>\n Rapinoe praised the “bravery and courage” of the women.<\/p>\n “I\u2019m just thinking about this in the context of, like, the immense pressure that these young adults and these young women are under to make a decision like this,” she said on the “A Touch More”<\/a> podcast. “Like, the incredible courage and bravery it would take knowing what that could potentially mean for their family back home. The bravery and courage to protest the national anthem, basically in protest of the Iranian regime and not singing the national anthem during a match. The stress and uncertainty they\u2019re facing \u2013 their family, their loved ones. What does that all mean for back home?<\/p>\n “I, of course, fully support their decisions to seek asylum and seek a better life and to try to escape an incredibly oppressive regime in that situation. I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on with them and why some of them left and however that is. I hope the ones that returned home have done so under their own free will and choice and that their families are safe, that they\u2019re safe and their friends are safe. I hope the ones that have chosen to stay feel a sense of peace and hope about a potential for a new life in Australia or otherwise.<\/p>\n Iran players react during their national anthem ahead of the Women’s Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026.\u00a0 (Dave Hunt\/AAP Image via AP)<\/p>\n IRAN WRESTLING CHAMPION SPEAKS OUT AGAINST COUNTRY’S TREATMENT OF FEMALE ATHLETES AMID SOCCER PLAYER CONCERNS<\/a><\/p>\n Rapinoe added that she was “in awe of their courage<\/a>.”<\/p>\n The former U.S. soccer star<\/a> faced scrutiny for not speaking out as the saga was unfolding in the country. Piers Morgan was among those who labeled Rapinoe as “hypocritical.”<\/p>\n “The silence over this from Rapinoe, and so many supposed \u2018feminists\u2019 like her, is so telling, damning, and hypocritical,” he wrote in a social media post. “They\u2019d rather campaign for biological men to wreck women\u2019s sport than campaign for these heroic young sportswomen to help save their lives.”\u00a0<\/p>\n She didn\u2019t address her critics in her latest podcast episode with Sue Bird.<\/p>\n Initially, seven of the Iranian women\u2019s soccer players accepted asylum but turned around and declined the opportunity at the last minute. Two players who stayed were seen training with one of the country\u2019s premier clubs last week.<\/p>\n The Australian government faced criticism for not working fast enough to get to the players.<\/p>\n “We ended up with an outcome that is certainly far from ideal,” Graham Thom, an advocacy coordinator for the Refugee Council of Australia, told The Associated Press.<\/p>\n FILE – Iran players pose for a team photo ahead of the Women’s Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia on Sunday, March 8, 2026.\u00a0 (Dave Hunt\/AAPImage via AP,File)<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n “Hopefully the two who are remaining get the protection they need, but we just hope that those who have returned are also safe.”<\/p>\n The Associated Press contributed to this report.<\/p>\n Follow Fox News Digital\u2019s\u00a0sports coverage on X<\/a> and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n![\"Megan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/soccer-megan-rapinoe-032326-1.jpg\")
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