Iranian women's team returns home after asylum issues resolved

Australia issued humanitarian visas to six players and one support staff member when they requested asylum, expressing fears of potential persecution upon returning to Iran.

Safety worries emerged after several players declined to sing the national anthem during a women's Asian Cup match earlier this month, coinciding with the United States and Israel starting the war against Iran. Iranian state television dubbed them "wartime traitors".

The team arrived in Istanbul by flight on Tuesday and then travelled to Igdir in eastern Turkey early Wednesday morning.

The players exited Igdir Airport dragging their suitcases and conversed outside the terminal prior to getting on a bus headed for the border. One player offered a quick smile and wave to a television camera before the bus left. Following a journey of about two hours to the border area, they passed through passport checks at the Gurbulak gate and entered Iran.

The squad's participation in the Asian Cup started right as the United States and Israel carried out attacks on Iran, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The team was knocked out of the competition over a week ago.

Five of the individuals who initially sought asylum in Australia later reversed their decision and chose to go back home, according to reports from Australian media about the most recent change on Monday.

They linked up with the remaining team members in Kuala Lumpur, where the group had stayed since departing Sydney the previous week.

The Iranian Football Association (FFIRI) announced last week that those who altered their plans would journey home alongside the team "to once again be embraced by their families and homeland."

Two players remain in Australia and have been observed practising with the Brisbane Roar A-League Women's squad.