New Delhi: The Iranian women’s national football team made a defiant statement during the opening match of the Women’s Asian Cup on Monday by boycotting the national anthem ahead of the opening match of the tournament at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast, Australia.
The Iranians lined up for pre-match formalities for their match against South Korea, but refused to sing the Iranian national anthem when it began to play. The women, with a straight face, barely moved during the anthem as jeers were heard from the stands. However, those jeers turned into applause following the 3-0 South Korea victory.
Iran’s manager, Marziyeh Jafari, was seen wearing a smile on the sidelines as she looked upon her players’ silence gesture from the dugout.
The Iranian women’s national football team refused to sing the anthem of the Islamic Regime. Tonight. At the opening match of the Asian Cup. In front of the entire world.
So, to all liberal Western women:
Watch and learn.
THIS is what real feminism looks like. pic.twitter.com/SriXGbipsY— Samantha Smith (@SamanthaTaghoy) March 3, 2026
Iran football team’s defiant gesture amidst deadly war
The defiant gesture from the Iranian women’s team came in the midst of the US-Israel-Iran war. The silent statement came days after it was confirmed that U.S.-Israeli strikes over the weekend killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In retaliation, Iran has counterattacked by firing missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf countries that host U.S. allies or military bases, including Bahrain and Qatar.
In the pre-match press conference on Sunday, Iran women’s national team captain Zahra Ghanbari and coach Jafari refused to answer a question about Khamenei’s death.
Iran will next play tournament host Australia on Thursday at the same venue.
South Korea dominated the game despite a dogged Iranian defence that kept them at bay in the first thirty minutes. But Korea, who had 20 shots in the first half, finally took the lead through Choe Yu-ri’s goal in the 37th minute. Kim Hye-ri converted from the penalty spot in the 59th minute before Ko Yoo-jin wrapped up the match with a well-timed glancing header in the 75th.