Two Iranian Female Footballers Granted Australian Citizenship After Claiming Asylum

Published 7 August 2026 · sports

News sports football Two Iranian Female Footballers Granted Australian Citizenship After Claiming Asylum Two Iranian Female Footballers Granted Australian Citizenship After Claiming Asylum Published By, Last Updated: August 07, 2026, 11:22 IST Their citizenship could potentially have been fast-tracked under Australian law to make them eligible to play football for Australia. Fatemeh Pasandideh, left, and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, former members of the Iranian women’s soccer team, stand with Australia's Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, after receiving their citizenship in Brisbane, Australia, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. (Department of Home Affairs via AP) Two members of Iran’s women’s football team who sought asylum in Australia in March have been granted Australian citizenship. Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh said in a statement on Thursday that Immigration Minister Tony Burke had sworn them in the previous day at a citizenship ceremony in their home city of Brisbane. Friends and supporters from the local Iranian community attended the event.

“Yesterday was a truly special and unforgettable day for me. I feel proud and deeply grateful to become an Australian citizen. Australia has given me the opportunity to build my life and my future, and I feel, more than ever, that I belong here," Ramezanisadeh said in the statement. She added that her Iranian heritage and memories from the country would always remain a part of her. Pasandideh described Wednesday as “one of the happiest days of my life." “I’m incredibly proud and grateful to officially become an Australian citizen. After everything we’ve been through and all the challenges we faced, this moment means more than words can express," Pasandideh said. When The Associated Press asked Burke’s office why the women’s citizenship had been fast-tracked, his department said it could not comment on individual cases due to privacy reasons. The Refugee Council of Australia, a nonprofit umbrella group representing asylum-seekers, said refugees generally need to live in Australia on a valid visa for four years before applying for citizenship.

Their citizenship may have been fast-tracked under Australian law to allow them to become eligible to play football for Australia. The two players joined Brisbane Roar, which competes in Australia’s elite A-League Women’s domestic competition, after being granted asylum when Iran withdrew from the Women’s Asia Cup hosted by Australia. They were among seven Iranian women who initially accepted asylum, but five later changed their decisions within days and returned to the team for undisclosed reasons. The team had arrived in Australia before the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran in February. Concerns over the players’ safety in Iran emerged after they chose not to sing the Iranian national anthem before their opening match of the tournament. Protesters calling for asylum for the team frequently referenced Iranian sports commentator Mohammad Reza Shahbazi’s description of the women as “wartime traitors" during a television broadcast. U.S. President Donald Trump also called for the team to be granted asylum in social media posts and raised the issue in a phone call with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.