Captain of Iranian women’s football team leaves Australia after initially accepting offer of asylum

<p>Minister Tony Burke confirms another member of Iran’s women’s football team left Australia late Sunday night</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/mar/16/australia-news-live-hybrid-car-sales-electric-vehicles-iran-footballers-tony-burke-asylum-oscars-academy-awards-anthony-albanese-angus-taylor-matt-canavan-labor-liberal-coalition-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>The captain of the Iranian women’s football squad has left Australia after withdrawing her claim of asylum.</p><p>Zahra Ghanbari became the fifth member of the football cohort to change her mind after initially taking up an offer to stay in the country following the Asian Cup.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/mar/16/fifth-iranian-football-player-leaves-australia-after-initially-accepting-offer-of-asylum">Continue reading...</a>