MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Another three members of the Iran's women’s soccer team who accepted refugee visas to stay in Australia have decided to return to their homeland, an Australian government minister said on Sunday.
The departure leaves three of an initial seven squad members in Australia.
“Overnight, three members of the Iranian Women’s Football Team made the decision to join the rest of the team on their journey back to Iran,” Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement.
“After telling Australian officials they had made this decision, the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options,” Burke added.
Iran's team arrived in Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup last month, before the war in the Middle East began on Feb. 28.
Initially, six players and a support staff member from a squad list of 26 players accepted humanitarian visas to stay in Australia before the rest of the Iranian contingent flew from Sydney to Malaysia on March 9.
Another later changed her mind and left Australia. Three left Sydney for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Saturday night, a government official said. The rest of the team has remained in Kuala Lumpur since they left Australia.
Iran's Tasnim News Agency said the latest three to leave Australia were two players and the support staff member. The three were “returning to the warm embrace of their family and homeland,” the news outlet said in a statement.
Concerns about the team's safety in Iran heightened when the players didn't sing the Iranian national anthem before their first match.
The Australian government was urged to help the women by Iranian groups in Australia and by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Iranian news agency described the women's return to the team as the “disgraceful failure of the American-Australian project and another failure for Trump.”
Treasurer Jim Chalmers, one of the most senior members of the Australian government, said he was pleased that three of the Iranian women would remain in Australia.
“I am worried about them,” Chalmers told Seven Network television, referring to the women who had changed their minds about staying in Australia.
“I can only image the pressure that they feel and how difficult these sorts of decisions would be for them,” Chalmers added.
Burke said Australians should be proud that their country presented the Iranian team with choices and sought to help them.
“While the Australian government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions,” Burke said.
“The Australian government has done everything we could to make sure these women were provided with the chance for a safe future in Australia,” he added.
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (Lukas Coch/AAPImage via AP)/AAP Image via AP)
ZURICH (AP) — Ryan Leonard scored the decisive penalty for the United States in a 4-3 shootout win over Germany at the ice hockey world championship on Wednesday.
Tommy Novak tied it at 3-3 for the U.S. with 5:47 left in regulation after Germany goaltender Philipp Grubauer was unable to hold onto the puck.
The defending champion Americans recovered from a 6-2 loss to Finland on Monday for their second win from four games and have five points in Group A in Zurich.
The Germans earned their first point.
Isaac Howard and Max Sasson also scored for the U.S. and goaltender Devin Cooley allowed one goal in the shootout.
Germany took an early lead when captain Moritz Seider scored one minute into the game. Howard tied it at 1-1 before the end of the first and Sasson's goal put the Americans ahead early in the second period.
Still in the second, the Germans rallied with Frederik Tiffels' tying goal and Marc Michaelis' go-ahead tally less than three minutes later.
Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, who arrived at Zurich on Tuesday, played his first career game at the worlds. The two-time Stanley Cup winner and Olympic champion failed to convert his penalty shot.
The U.S. plays Latvia on Saturday.
Switzerland routed Austria 9-0 to keep a perfect record.
Theo Rochette, Nico Hischier and Damien Riat each scored two goals as the Swiss won their fourth straight game to lead Group A in Zurich with 12 points.
Sven Andrighetto had three assists and Leonardo Genoni stopped 20 shots.
After finishing runner-up the previous two years, host Switzerland hopes for more in front of the home supporters.
Austria remains on nine points after its first loss.
In Group B in Fribourg, Czechia rallied late to edge winless Italy 3-1.
Nicholas Saracino put Italy in front 1-0 in the second period — for only the second goal by Italy at the worlds.
Early in the third, Marek Alscher tied it at 1-1 and Jakub Flek scored the eventual winner with 8:55 left. Dominik Kubalík added an empty-netter.
The Czechs, atop their group with 10 points, outshot Italy 58-15.
In another game in Fribourg, Raymond Lucas and Jacob de la Rose each scored two goals in Sweden's 6-0 win over Slovenia. Robert Hagg and Mattias Ekholm also scored.
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Sweden's Carl Grundstrom, left, vies for the puck against Slovenia's Marcel Mahkovec, right, during the 2026 IIHF Men's Ice Hockey World Championship preliminary round group B game between Sweden and Slovenia, in Fribourg, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Cyril Zingaro/Keystone via AP)
Germany's Marc Michaelis, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring their third goal during a Group A preliminary round game between the United States and Germany at the men's ice hockey world championship in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Andreas Becker/Keystone via AP)
United States Alex Steeves falls in the crease between Germany's goaltender Philipp Grubauer, left, and Leon Gawanke during a Group A preliminary round game between the United States and Germany at the men's ice hockey world championship in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Andreas Becker/Keystone via AP)
United States' Ryan Leonard, left, scores the decisive goal in the penalty shootout during a Group A preliminary round game between the USA and Germany at the men's ice hockey world championship in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Andreas Becker/Keystone via AP)
United States' Ryan Leonard celebrates after scoring the decisive goal in the penalty shootout during a Group A preliminary round game between the USA and Germany at the men's ice hockey world championship in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Andreas Becker/Keystone via AP)
Czechia's Marek Alscher, center, celebrates with Matej Blumel, right, and Jiri Tichacek, left, after scoring during a Group B preliminary round game between the Czech Republic and Italy in Fribourg, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Cyril Zingaro/Keystone via AP)
Switzerland's players celebrate after scoring during the 2026 IIHF Men's Ice Hockey World Championship preliminary round group A game between Austria and Switzerland, in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Andreas Becker/Keystone via AP)
Switzerland's Theo Rochette, behind left,and Switzerland's Damien Riat, center, celebrate the fourth goal in front of Austria's Ramon Schnetzer, left, and Austria's goaltender David Kickert, right, during the 2026 IIHF Men's Ice Hockey World Championship preliminary round group A game between Austria and Switzerland, in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Claudio Thoma/Keystone via AP)
Switzerland's Theo Rochette, right in white, scores the teams first goal against, from left, Austria's Ian Scherzer, Austria's Ramon Schnetzer and Austria's goaltender David Kickert during the 2026 IIHF Men's Ice Hockey World Championship preliminary round group A game between Austria and Switzerland, in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Claudio Thoma/Keystone via AP)
Switzerland's Nico Hischier, right, scores the fifth goal to Austria's goaltender David Kickert, left, during the 2026 IIHF Men's Ice Hockey World Championship preliminary round group A game between Austria and Switzerland, in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Claudio Thoma/Keystone via AP)
