(Video) Iranian Women’s Football Team Refuses to Sing Regime Anthem at Asian Cup Despite State Warning Amid Growing Instability

Players of the Iranian National Women's team did not sing the national anthem at the Women's Asia Cup in Australia on Monday night.

(Video) Iranian Women’s Football Team Refuses to Sing Regime Anthem at Asian Cup Despite State Warning Amid Growing Instability

Iranian Women's National Football Team did not sing the national anthem prior to kick off against South Korea (Image via Screengrab X)

On Monday night, Cbus Super Stadium witnessed an unforgettable moment as the players of Iran’s national women’s football team stood silently while the national anthem played over the loudspeakers. There was no remorse or discontent on their faces. In fact, a hint of a smile could be seen at the corner of their lips.

Cameras discovered Iranian coach Marziyeh Jafari grinning from ear to ear. It felt liberating. The development came hours after a question regarding the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in US strikes spread across the world.

According to CNN and BBC, Khamenei and several members of his family died in the barrage of missile strikes from US-Israeli vessels.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed on the first day of massive US and Israeli air strikes on Iran, US President Donald Trump has announced. The death of the 86-year-old ruler of the past three decades – one of the longest in the world – was later confirmed on Iranian state TV. Iran has had only two supreme leaders since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

BBC reported

Tehran launched a counter-offensive against countries such as the USA, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. As the Middle East heats up in its biggest conflict since the Arab Spring in Tunisia and Egypt, more than 10,000 kilometers away, the Iranian national team marked the fall of Khamenei’s dictatorial regime in its own powerful way.

Veteran journalist and voice of women in sports, Tracey Holmes, shared a video on X that captured the moment on live camera.

None of the Iranian players, nor the coach, sang the national anthem ahead of their match at the Women’s Asian Cup on the Gold Coast, despite being instructed to do so before they left Iran so as not to embarrass the regime. They have obviously taken strength from events unfolding in their country. There was also a group of Iranian supporters at the game flying the pre-Islamic Revolutionary flag featuring the golden lion and sun.

Iran holds its ground but ends up allowing three goals against South Korea

It was always going to be a tough challenge for 68th-ranked Iran when they were matched up against a much stronger South Korea, sitting at 21st in the latest FIFA global rankings. That said, once the referee blows for kickoff, the team that plays better on the day usually wins, regardless of their world rankings.

(Video) Iranian Women’s Football Team Refuses to Sing Regime Anthem at Asian Cup Despite State Warning Amid Growing Instability
Iran captain Zahra Ghanbari (Image via Persian.com)

South Korea, the runner-up at the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup, secured a 3-0 win over Iran, who put on a solid defensive display led by goalkeeper Maryam Yektaei.

South Korea took the lead around the 37th-minute mark through Choe Yu-ri’s goal. Yektaei’s resiliency kept the score to 1-0 at halftime. The Koreans had their second breakthrough fourteen minutes after the restart. Kim Hye-ri dispatched a penalty before Ko Yoo-jin finished off the scoring with a well-timed glancing header in the 75th minute.

Iran will next play against the host nation, Australia, on Thursday at the same venue. Sam Kerr, captain of the Matildas, expressed sympathy toward her Iranian counterparts.

Obviously, it’s really tough what’s going on around the world. But you know, they’re just young, young girls and young footballers … We’ll treat the game like any other game and show the team the utmost respect and prepare properly.

Kerr told 10 Sports following Australia’s win over the Philippines to open the tournament

These two teams have only played once against each other. They met during the 2024 AFC Olympic qualifiers, and the game ended in a 2-0 victory for the Aussies. Kerr and her Chelsea teammate Ellie Carpenter scored the two goals.

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