Australian official touts bravery of Iranian women's soccer team as some receive asylum

Australian councilor Tina Kordrostami talks to Fox News Channel's Bryan Llenas about why the Iranian women's soccer team would want to return home.

At least six members of the Iranian women’s soccer team decided to stay in Australia and seek asylum instead of going back to their home country where they face war and the possibility of even worse if they decide to go back.

Five of the six members of the team were granted asylum on Tuesday. Two others were also seeking asylum, but one of them changed their minds. There were more than 20 members of the team who came to Australia to compete in the Women’s Asian Cup.

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Members of the Iranian women's national soccer team appear at Kuala Lumpur International Airport after attending a Group A match of the AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia, in Sepang, Malaysia, March 11, 2026. (REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain)

Tina Kordrostami, a councilor for the city of Ryde in Australia, told Fox News in an interview on Wednesday the reason why most of the girls decided to go back was because of their families.

"So, their family is the No. 1 reason that the girls want to go back home and the No. 1 thing they're worried and scared about," she said. "The second thing, as I mentioned, is all they have is in Iran, and they are fearful of their identity and losing anything that they have built over the last few years for it.

"I know for a fact that they don't want to be living there. They are passionate athletes. They are women who, you know, have so much to say about their identity and who they are. And because they are in the public eye within Iran, they are restricted even more than others. No logical person would want to remain in that country,