Iran’s national women’s soccer team has returned to the Islamic Republic after several of the players sought asylum in Australia, Iranian media reported Wednesday.
The outlets shared footage of the players entering Iran after landing in Turkey and taking a bus to the border. They were greeted by some officials at the border.
Two Iranian female players, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, chose to remain in Australia and have been training with the Brisbane Roar club.
Others who initially sought asylum after the team was knocked out of the Women’s Asian Cup later changed their minds and said they would return to Iran.
Iran’s squad arrived in Australia for the tournament shortly before the Iran war began on Feb. 28. The team initially gained global attention after some players stayed silent during Iran’s national anthem before their first game in the Asian Cup. The silence was cast as an act of resistance or protest by some commentators and a show of mourning by others.
The players didn’t publicly disclose their views or explain their actions and sang the anthem before their next two matches.
When the team was knocked out of the tournament and faced the prospect of returning to a country under bombardment, calls grew for Australia’s government to offer the women asylum. Iranian groups in Australia and U.S. President Donald Trump were among those who expressed fears for the women’s safety.
Iranian first Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref last week dismissed suggestions the women would be unsafe if they returned home, saying the country “welcomes its children with open arms and the government guarantees their security.”
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Iran players pose for a team photo ahead of the Women's Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAPImage via AP,File)
NEW DELHI (AP) — Finn Allen's 47-ball century against Delhi Capitals rushed Kolkata Knight Riders to their fourth straight win in the Indian Premier League on Friday.
Allen finally struck form with an unbeaten 100 including 10 sixes and five boundaries, as Kolkata cruised to 147-2 in 14.2 overs for a thumping eight-wicket win.
Delhi struggled on a slow pitch and was restricted to 142-8 despite opening batters Pathum Nissanka (50) and Lokesh Rahul (23) providing a decent start of 49 in the first five overs.
Kolkata was up to seventh in the table, three points off the top four. Delhi was eighth and still mathematically in the playoffs race.
Allen accidentally ran out fellow opener and captain Ajinkya Rahane when his shot deflected off Mitchell Starc's hand onto Rahane's stumps. But Allen made up for it, and rewarded persistence after coming into the game with 110 runs from six games.
“I’ve been working on having more strings in my bow,” Allen said. “I've got a few starts, frustrating not to carry on. Nice to have some personal success. Sometimes being left out changes your perspective. Allows time for mental refresh. I was putting too much pressure on myself."
The New Zealander reached a half-century off 32 balls and the second fifty off just 15. His batting partner, million dollar signing Cameroon Green, was content to feed Allen the strike and watch the fireworks.
When Kolkata was on the brink of victory and Allen was on 94, Green teed up his teammate who smashed Mukesh Kumar with his 10th six to reach his hundred and clinch the win.
Green was unbeaten on 33 off 27 balls.
“I knew I'd be the most hated player in Kolkata if I didn't help him get the ton,” Green said.
Delhi was put in to bat, lost wickets in clusters, and slumped to 89-5 in the 11th over. That included the key dismissal of Nissanka, stumped after reaching 50.
Kolkata spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy frustrated Delhi by bowling a combined eight overs for just 45 runs.
“We were short on runs,” Delhi skipper Axar Patel said. “We lost five wickets in two-three overs and lost momentum.”
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Kolkata Knight Riders' Finn Allen plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in New Delhi, India, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Kolkata Knight Riders' Finn Allen celebrates his century during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in New Delhi, India, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Delhi Capitals' Vipraj Nigam reacts after getting hit for consecutive sixes during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in New Delhi, India, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Kolkata Knight Riders' Kartik Tyagi, left, celebrates with teammates the wicket of Delhi Capitals' KL Rahul during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in New Delhi, India, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Delhi Capitals' Tristan Stubbs is bowled out by Kolkata Knight Riders' Anukul Roy during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in New Delhi, India, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Delhi Capitals' Ashutosh Sharma plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in New Delhi, India, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Kolkata Knight Riders' Finn Allen plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in New Delhi, India, Friday, May 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
