Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Australia grants citizenship to two Iranian women's soccer players
Two soccer players from Iran are now citizens of Australia.
Their names are Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh.
They came to Australia to play in a big soccer tournament for women.
In March, they asked Australia for a safe place to stay, which is called asylum.
Australia said yes.
At a special ceremony in Brisbane, a leader called the Immigration Minister officially welcomed them as Australian citizens.
Now they can play for their soccer team, Brisbane Roar.
Normally, people have to wait four years to become citizens, but these players did not have to wait as long.
Some people in Iran were unhappy and called them 'traitors' for not singing Iran's national anthem.
Australia wanted to give them a safe place to build their new lives.
Iranian women's soccer players Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were granted Australian citizenship after claiming asylum in March.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke swore them in at a citizenship ceremony in Brisbane attended by friends and supporters from the local Iranian community.
The pair joined Brisbane Roar, which plays in Australia's A-League Women's competition, after Iran dropped out of the Women's Asia Cup hosted by Australia.
Five of the seven Iranian women who initially accepted asylum changed their minds within days and returned to the team for undisclosed reasons.
US President Donald Trump had called for the team to be granted asylum and telephoned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the issue.
- Who
- Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, two Iranian women's soccer players, sworn in by Immigration Minister Tony Burke.
- What
- The two players were granted Australian citizenship after claiming asylum earlier in the year.
- When
- Asylum was claimed in March; the citizenship ceremony took place on the Wednesday before the players' statement on Thursday.
- Where
- Brisbane, Australia.
- Why
- The players sought protection amid welfare concerns linked to backlash over their decision not to sing Iran's national anthem and their departure from the team.
Supporters of asylum and fast-tracked citizenship
Critics of the players and the expedited process
National anthem decision
Supporters of asylum and fast-tracked citizenship
Players skipping Iran's national anthem raised genuine welfare concerns, and protesters widely demanded asylum for the team.
Critics of the players and the expedited process
Iranian sports commentator Mohammad Reza Shahbazi called the women 'wartime traitors' in a television broadcast.
Speed of citizenship
Supporters of asylum and fast-tracked citizenship
Fast-tracking allowed the players to build new lives and continue playing soccer, with US President Donald Trump urging asylum and calling the Australian prime minister.
Critics of the players and the expedited process
The grant came unusually fast, as refugees normally must live in Australia on a valid visa for four years, and the government gave no public explanation, citing privacy.
- New citizens
- Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh
- Ceremony
- Sworn in by Immigration Minister Tony Burke in Brisbane
- Team
- Brisbane Roar (A-League Women's)
- Asylum claimed
- March
- Team arrival
- Before the United States and Israel attacked Iran in February
- Standard citizenship wait
- Four years on a valid visa, per the Refugee Council of Australia
- Tournament
- Women's Asia Cup hosted by Australia; Iran dropped out
- Seven players
- Seven initially accepted asylum; five changed their minds and returned to the team