Megan Rapinoe praises Iranian women's soccer team's 'bravery' after facing criticism

Former U.S. shot prima Megan Rapinoe spoke retired successful enactment of the Iranian women’s shot squad amid the players’ trials and tribulations implicit the past fewer weeks portion competing successful Australia.

The Iranian women’s shot squad was successful Australia earlier this period to vie successful the Women’s Asian Cup. Players were seen refusing to sing their country’s nationalist anthem arsenic the U.S. and Israel launched a associated subject run connected the Iranian regime. The players were dubbed "wartime traitors" by an Iranian broadcaster for their decisions during the tournament.

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Retired United States shot subordinate Megan Rapinoe looks connected earlier a SheBelieves Cup lucifer against Colombia astatine Sports Illustrated Stadium connected March 7, 2026 successful Harrison, New Jersey.  (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

Australian officials past raced to effort to get the players asylum successful the country. At slightest 2 players stayed successful Australia portion the remainder of the squad made it backmost to Iran.

Rapinoe praised the "bravery and courage" of the women.

"I’m conscionable reasoning astir this successful the discourse of, like, the immense unit that these young adults and these young women are nether to marque a determination similar this," she said connected the "A Touch More" podcast. "Like, the unthinkable courageousness and bravery it would instrumentality knowing what that could perchance mean for their household backmost home. The bravery and courageousness to protestation the nationalist anthem, fundamentally successful protestation of the Iranian authorities and not singing the nationalist anthem during a match. The accent and uncertainty they’re facing – their family, their loved ones. What does that each mean for backmost home?

"I, of course, afloat enactment their decisions to question asylum and question a amended beingness and to effort to flight an incredibly oppressive authorities successful that situation. I don’t cognize what’s going connected with them and wherefore immoderate of them near and nevertheless that is. I anticipation the ones that returned location person done truthful nether their ain escaped volition and prime and that their families are safe, that they’re harmless and their friends are safe. I anticipation the ones that person chosen to enactment consciousness a consciousness of bid and anticipation astir a imaginable for a caller beingness successful Australia oregon otherwise.

Iran players respond during their nationalist anthem up of the Women's Asian Cup shot lucifer betwixt Iran and the Philippines successful Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026.  (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)

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Rapinoe added that she was "in awe of their courage."

The erstwhile U.S. shot prima faced scrutiny for not speaking retired arsenic the saga was unfolding successful the country. Piers Morgan was among those who labeled Rapinoe arsenic "hypocritical."

"The soundlessness implicit this from Rapinoe, and truthful galore expected ‘feminists’ similar her, is truthful telling, damning, and hypocritical," helium wrote successful a societal media post. "They’d alternatively run for biologic men to wreck women’s athletics than run for these heroic young sportswomen to assistance prevention their lives." 

She didn’t code her critics successful her latest podcast occurrence with Sue Bird.

Initially, 7 of the Iranian women’s shot players accepted asylum but turned astir and declined the accidental astatine the past minute. Two players who stayed were seen grooming with 1 of the country’s premier clubs past week.

The Australian authorities faced disapproval for not moving accelerated capable to get to the players.

"We ended up with an result that is surely acold from ideal," Graham Thom, an advocacy coordinator for the Refugee Council of Australia, told The Associated Press.

FILE - Iran players airs for a squad photograph up of the Women's Asian Cup shot lucifer betwixt Iran and the Philippines successful Robina, Australia connected Sunday, March 8, 2026.  (Dave Hunt/AAPImage via AP,File)

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"Hopefully the 2 who are remaining get the extortion they need, but we conscionable anticipation that those who person returned are besides safe."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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