Shush! Iranian Women Refuse To Sing National Anthem Ahead Of AFC Asian Cup 2026 Curtain-Riser

Last Updated:March 03, 2026, 09:56 IST

Iranian women made a powerful statement as they refused to sing the national anthem of the Islamic regime ahead of their game against South Korea.

AFC Asian Cup 2026: Iranian Women’s Football Team. (X)

The Iranian women’s football team made a powerful statement during their AFC Asian Cup 2026 opener in Australia, when they refused to sing the national anthem of the Islamic regime ahead of their game against South Korea.

South Korea went on to win the match 3-0 as a brace from Kim Hye-ri and another strike from Choe Yu-ri helped them open the campaign with a resounding win.

However, the defeat took nothing away from the brave gesture of the Iranian women, who stood up in astounding fashion with the world looking on.

There was also pre-season drama for the Indian women’s football team, who will begin their AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 campaign with their game against Vietnam in Perth, on the 4th of March, but the preparation of the Blue Tigresses faced a challenge as the training jerseys sent in by the AIFF were a bit too small for the majority of the side.

The delay in the side receiving their match and training kits was initially said to be down to a delay in permits, however, when the kits did arrive at the hotel the side have been accommodated in, they did not fit a vast majority of the players in the team as they were manufactured for the age category side. And hence, the team may now be forced to procure kits locally.

The Blue Tigresses, who made their way to Australia after their training camp in Turkey last month, are extremely upset with the way they are being treated and the senior players of the unit have written to the AIFF requesting to address the situation.

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