Trump warns Australia 'is making a terrible humanitarian mistake' over Iranian women's soccer team

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President Donald Trump offered a stark warning to the Australian government on Monday as the Iranian women’s soccer team is slated to return home following the Women’s Asian Cup.

The team faces uncertainty as war broke out while they were in Australia for the tournament. Amid concerns for player welfare, the Australian Iranian Council wrote to Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke urging the government to protect the squad members while they’re in the country.

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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. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)

Trump weighed in with a post on Truth Social.

"Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed," he wrote. "Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The U.S. will take them if you won’t."

Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Matt ⁠Thistlethwaite was asked whether the country would grant the Iranian players asylum but said the government could not "go into individual circumstances for privacy reasons."

Five Iranian women’s soccer players reportedly defected with the help of police.

IRANIAN WOMEN'S SOCCER FANS SHOW SUPPORT FOR TRUMP AS TEAM APPEARS TO PIVOT ON NATIONAL ANTHEM STANCE

Iran supporters wave flags during the Women's Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday,