Windsor said at a news conference earlier that his confederation had not received any direct complaints from players about returning home, despite media reports that their families in Iran could face retaliation for the team failing to sing their national anthem before the opening match.
The silence during the anthem was variously reported as an act of resistance or a show of mourning. The team didn’t clarify, and it sang at the opening of a later match.
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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. AP
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