Australia granted humanitarian visas to five players from Iran's women's national soccer team late Monday, allowing them to stay in the country amid fears of retaliation back home.

The players, Zahra Ghanbari, the team captain; Fatemeh Pasandideh; Zahra Sarbali; Atefeh Ramazanzadeh; and Mona Hamoudi, escaped their team handlers at the Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast on Monday night. They sought protection from the Australian Federal Police, citing concerns over their safety following a protest during the Women's Asian Cup tournament.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke met with the women, processed their applications overnight, and moved them to a safe location under police protection. Upon receiving the visas, the players chanted "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie." Burke described their reaction as one of joy and relief, noting they were athletes seeking safety rather than political activists.

The incident stemmed from the team's first match on March 2 against Australia, when the players stood silent during Iran's national anthem. Hardliners in Iran labeled the gesture treasonous. For subsequent games on March 5 and their final match against the Philippines on March 8, a 2-0 loss, they sang the anthem and saluted. After the game, supporters surrounded the team bus, chanting "save our girls" and holding banners urging them to seek asylum. Some players flashed a help signal from the bus windows.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the visas on Tuesday morning and extended the offer to the remaining 26 players and staff. "Australians have been moved by the plight of these brave women," he said. "They're safe here, and they should feel at home here."

President Trump amplified international attention by posting on Truth Social on Monday, urging Australia not to return the team to Iran, "where they will most likely be killed." He offered U.S. asylum as an alternative and later praised Albanese after a 2 a.m. call, saying five players were "taken care of" and others were on the way.

Albanese described the discussion as positive, noting Australia had acted in the previous 48 hours. Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref dismissed the situation as "psychological warfare" and vowed to welcome the players home safely.

The team was eliminated from the tournament hosted by the Asian Football Confederation. While the coach expressed a desire to return home, concerns persist for families of the defectors, some of whom received threats. The offer of assistance remains open to the rest of the squad as they prepare to depart.