Sports
Iranian Women’s Soccer Players Abandon Asylum in Australia, Reunite With Squad in Malaysia
Five members of Iran’s women’s national football team have rejoined their squad in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, after abandoning earlier plans to seek asylum in Australia following the Women’s Asian Cup tournament.
The players were among a group of seven team members who initially applied for humanitarian protection visas in Australia after leaving their team camp during the tournament, citing fears of possible persecution if they returned to Iran.
However, five of the players later withdrew their asylum requests and travelled to Malaysia to reunite with the rest of the Iranian squad, which had earlier left Sydney for Kuala Lumpur after the competition.
Among those reported to have reversed their decisions are several key players, including team captain Zahra Ghanbari, who was said to have dropped her asylum bid and joined teammates travelling through Malaysia before heading back to Iran.
The asylum controversy began during the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup when several Iranian players refused to sing the country’s national anthem before a match, sparking criticism from Iranian state media and raising fears about potential repercussions if they returned home.
Human rights activists and members of the Iranian diaspora have suggested the players may have faced pressure from authorities in Tehran, including alleged threats directed at their families, though Iranian officials deny the claims.
Following the latest developments, only two members of the team are believed to remain in Australia pursuing asylum, while the rest of the squad is currently in Kuala Lumpur awaiting arrangements to travel back to Iran.
The situation has drawn global attention, highlighting the complex intersection of sports, politics and human rights in international football.
Argentine superstar Lionel Messi reached a remarkable milestone on Wednesday, scoring the 900th goal of his illustrious career, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Inter Miami from being eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup on away goals after a 1-1 draw with Nashville SC.
Messi, 38, opened the scoring just seven minutes into the second leg of the Round of 16 clash, giving Miami an early advantage in what was the club’s final game at their Chase Stadium home in Fort Lauderdale.
However, Nashville’s Cristian Espinoza equalized in the 74th minute, sending the visitors from Tennessee through to the quarter-finals under the away goals rule.
The goal marked Messi’s 81st in Major League Soccer since joining Inter Miami in 2023. Across his career, he has also scored 672 goals for Barcelona, 32 for Paris Saint-Germain, and 115 for the Argentina national team.
Goal number 900 comes 21 years after Messi’s senior debut goal for Barcelona in a 2-0 win over Albacete in 2005, when he was just 17. Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Messi still trails his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently has 965 career goals.
Speaking ahead of the milestone, Miami manager and former teammate Javier Mascherano described Messi’s goal record as “insane.” “I’ve been lucky to witness many of his goals up close, and that’s a privilege. The number we’re talking about is insane that’s why Leo is one of a kind,” Mascherano said.
Wednesday’s match was also a farewell to Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium, their home since entering Major League Soccer in 2020. The team is set to move to a new 26,700-seat facility next month.
Messi, who has already extended his Inter Miami contract through 2028, is expected to feature in his sixth World Cup later this year as Argentina defend their title in the expanded 48-team tournament across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Messi’s career has been defined by prolific scoring. He netted 672 times in 778 games for Barcelona, winning 35 trophies, then added 32 goals in 75 appearances for PSG, and 81 goals in 96 matches for Inter Miami, helping the team secure the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2025 MLS Cup.
Internationally, he has scored 115 goals in 196 appearances, including two in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup final victory over France.
Despite Messi’s record-breaking achievement, Inter Miami will look ahead to the new season and their new home, while fans celebrate one of football’s greatest ever scorers.
Football
Atletico Edge Thriller, Knock Out Spurs 7–5 on Aggregate to Reach Champions League Quarter-Finals
Atletico Madrid survived a spirited comeback attempt from Tottenham Hotspur to book their place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, despite a 3–2 defeat in the second leg in London.
Diego Simeone’s side advanced 7–5 on aggregate after a dramatic encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where the hosts pushed hard to overturn a heavy first-leg deficit.
Tottenham struck first through Randal Kolo Muani, who powered home a header in the 30th minute to ignite hopes of a comeback. But Julian Alvarez responded swiftly after the break, levelling for Atletico with a composed finish.
The hosts refused to back down, with Xavi Simons restoring their lead with a stunning strike from the edge of the box. However, Atletico hit back again as David Hancko headed home in the 75th minute to keep the Spanish side firmly in control of the tie.
Simons added a late penalty in stoppage time, but it proved too little, too late, as Atletico held on to progress.
Despite being under pressure for long spells, Atletico’s resilience ensured they avoided a historic collapse, having built a commanding advantage in the first leg.
They will now face Barcelona in the quarter-finals after the Catalan side’s dominant win over Newcastle.
For Tottenham, the defeat ends their European campaign and shifts focus back to their domestic struggles. Currently hovering just above the relegation zone in the Premier League, their fight for survival now takes centre stage.
While the result exposed Atletico’s defensive vulnerabilities, Simeone’s men remain in contention for European glory though sterner tests lie ahead.
Manchester United secured a convincing 3–1 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday in a Premier League clash that saw captain Bruno Fernandes set a new club assist milestone.
The breakthrough came early in the match when Casemiro headed home from a corner delivered by Fernandes, giving United the lead. The hosts extended their advantage after Fernandes set up Matheus Cunha for the second goal.
Substitute Benjamin Šeško later sealed the victory with a late strike to ensure all three points for United.
Fernandes’ two assists in the match saw him surpass the long-standing club Premier League assist record previously held by former United star David Beckham. The Portuguese midfielder has now recorded 15 assists in the league this season and reached a total of 100 assists in all competitions for the club.
The win continues a strong run of form for United under manager Michael Carrick, with the team climbing from seventh to third in the league standings on 54 points. The gap between United and fifth-placed Liverpool FC now stands at nine points, boosting the club’s hopes of securing qualifications for the UEFA Champions League next season.
Fernandes later joked about his connection with Casemiro, saying the Brazilian “should give me a share of his goal bonuses,” while praising his teammate’s movement and timing in the box.
The result strengthens United’s push for a top-four finish as the Premier League season enters its decisive stage.