Three more members of the Iranian women's national football squad have withdrawn their asylum applications in Australia, opting to return to Iran. This decision leaves only three of the original seven squad members who had sought protection in Australia. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed on Sunday that the trio, identified as players Mona Hamoudi, Zahra Sarbali, and a team support staff member, chose to rejoin the rest of the team in Iran after being issued special protection visas to stay in Australia. They reportedly left Australia on Saturday night for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to meet other team members returning to Tehran.

The plight of the Iranian women's football team garnered international attention after players refused to sing the country’s national anthem before an Asian Cup match on the Gold Coast, leading to them being labeled “wartime traitors” by some in their home country. US President Donald Trump had even called for support for their cause amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Minister Burke stated that Australian officials had given the players repeated opportunities to discuss their options, emphasizing that while the government could provide choices, it could not remove the complex context in which these difficult decisions were made. Federal minister Kristy McBain echoed this, asserting that the government ensured every opportunity for the women to make their own choices, dismissing the Iranian state's narrative as propaganda.

Iran's state-linked Tasnim News Agency and Sports Ministry publicly welcomed the players' return, describing it as a victory of