Players stand in silence during opening match against South Korea on the Gold Coast
In a moment that captured global attention, the Iranian women’s national football team refused to sing their national anthem before their opening match of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, using the international stage to send a powerful message of protest.
The team stood in complete silence as the anthem of Republic of Iran played over the speakers at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast ahead of their Group A match against South Korea.
None of the players or head coach Marziyeh Jafari were seen mouthing the words, with most staring straight ahead with solemn expressions.
A Bold Act of Solidarity
The silent protest came against a backdrop of escalating crisis in Iran, following recent military strikes and ongoing unrest within the country.
According to reports, the players had been instructed by Iranian officials to sing the anthem before leaving Iran, to avoid embarrassing the regime on the international stage.
Despite this pressure and concerns for their families’ safety, the team chose to make their voices heard through silence.
The protest carried multiple layers of meaning. It showed solidarity with protest movements inside Iran calling for change, and highlighted opposition to what critics have described as systematic discrimination against women and girls in the country.
Amnesty International has previously documented restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly in Iran, as well as institutional discrimination faced by women and minority groups.
Supporters in the stands added to the powerful symbolism, with a section of Iranian fans waving flags from the pre-1979 revolutionary era, featuring the golden lion and sun emblem that was replaced after the Islamic Revolution.
Silence That Spoke Louder Than Words
This is not the first time Iranian footballers have used the anthem ceremony to protest. During the 2022 men’s World Cup in Qatar, the Iranian men’s team also remained silent during the anthem before their first match, in solidarity with protest movements following the death of Mahsa Amini.
The “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement that emerged at that time continues to resonate with Iranian athletes .
Veteran sports journalist Tracey Holmes noted on social media that the players “have obviously taken strength from events unfolding in their country”.
Focus on Football Amid Crisis
When questioned by media about the political situation, including the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader in recent strikes, coach Jafari and her players declined to comment, choosing instead to focus on the tournament.
During a press conference, an Asian Football Confederation media representative intervened when political questions were raised, stating, “Let’s just focus on the game itself”.
Jafari later spoke only about her team’s performance. “We knew that we would have a tough game ahead as Korea is one of the toughest teams in Asia,” she said after the 3-0 defeat. “They played very well, so I congratulate them, and I hope we can come back to the competition powerfully”.
Courage Recognised by Opponents
The bravery of the Iranian players has not gone unnoticed. Australian midfielder Amy Sayer, whose team will face Iran on Thursday, expressed sympathy and respect for their situation.
“Our heart goes out to them and their families, it’s a difficult situation and it’s really brave of them to be able to be here and to perform,” Sayer told reporters . “They played last night, and they put on a really strong performance, even with the political climate that’s going on and the struggles that they might be going through” .
Looking Ahead
Despite the turmoil back home, Iran remains in the tournament, with their next match against host nation Australia on Thursday, followed by a final group game against the Philippines .