Women's Asian Cup 2026: Iranian women's team sings national anthem after silence in opening game

In a stark contrast to their opening Women's Asian Cup game against South Korea, Iran's national women's team has sung the national anthem ahead of their game against Australia.

The players were celebrated as brave for an "act of resistance" by not singing the anthem before their opening game, which was seen as a silent protest against the Islamic Republic regime.

But as the music came through the loudspeakers at Gold Coast Stadium, they put their hands to their head in a salute and sang loudly, while coaching staff had their hands on their heart as they sang.

Jeers rang out from the small group of Iranian-Australian fans in the crowd.

Alireza Mohebbi, an Australia-based correspondent for Iran International TV, told ABC Sport the players' decision to sing sent a clear signal.

"It's completely obvious that the Islamic Republic's regime, and the security team which is with the players in Australia, forced them to sing the anthem," he said.

"In the first match with South Korea they didn't do it, but now with all the pressure and media spreading the news around the world, it's completely obvious the regime pushed them not just to sing the anthem but do the military salute. There is no doubt."

There has been an intense spotlight on the players since the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over the weekend.

They have been asked about their reactions to the latest developments, but have been closely guarded in their answers because they are not allowed to speak out about the regime.

Sources close to the players have told ABC Sport the players have struggled with the attention and do not want to be dragged into politics, while also wanting to show that they oppose the regime.

About 100 demonstrators gathered outside of the stadium before the game to protest against the regime and celebrate the death of Khamenei.

Most of them travelled from Brisbane and had planned to attend even before the war erupted over the weekend.

They chanted "thank you Trump" and "long live the king, long live Iran", in reference to former Iranian heir Reza Pahlavi.

"I believe [the players] are the same as all 90 million other Iranians in Iran. They are under the occupation they are the hostages of the regime," one of the protest organisers Azin Naghibi told ABC Sport.

"They have been using these football players to normalise their crimes.

"Finally after 47 years there is some help, some intervention, some humanitarian support to rescue Iranians.

"I'm 100 per cent sure they have already punished them for not singing the Islamic Republic's anthem [against South Korea]. I'm sure they are under so much pressure, being punished not just themselves, but their families.

"I understand and I am supporting them, because I'm sure they wouldn't keep the mandatory hijabs on their bodies if they didn't have to."

Nasrin Vaziri is an Iranian Australian and women's rights activist who has lived on the Gold Coast for over 30 years.

She wanted to show her support for the players.

Loading...

"I think they are brilliant because they haven't had many chances to play [friendlies]," Ms Vaziri told ABC Sport.

"They are real people, even under pressure.

"We are proud of them. As a woman I'm proud of them.

"Under a lot of pressure they still deny to sing national anthem, because the national anthem …. is advertisement for the Islamic regime, so we don't like it."

Click here to read article