{"id":13855,"date":"2026-03-04T11:38:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T11:38:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=13855"},"modified":"2026-03-04T11:38:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T11:38:13","slug":"irans-womens-asian-cup-team-have-so-much-concern-for-families-back-home-football-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=13855","title":{"rendered":"Iran\u2019s Women\u2019s Asian Cup team have \u2018so much concern\u2019 for families back home | Football News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<p class=\"article__subhead\"><em>Players contesting the Women\u2019s Asian Cup in Australia share fears for loved ones at home amid US-Israeli attacks.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><button class=\"article-listen-container\" aria-labelledby=\"listen-text listen-duration\" data-testid=\"listen-to-article-button\"><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"article-listen-container__text\" data-testid=\"listen-to-article-text\">Listen to this article<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u00a0|\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"article-listen-container__duration\">4 mins<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/button><button tabindex=\"0\" class=\"tooltip-accessible_trigger\"><svg class=\"icon icon--info icon--main-grey-dark icon--16 listen-to-article-tooltip__icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\"><title>info<\/title><path class=\"icon-main-color\" d=\"M12 0a12 12 0 1 0 0 24 12 12 0 0 0 0-24Zm-.226 3.225a2.039 2.039 0 0 1 2.155 1.924v.193a1.998 1.998 0 0 1-2.155 2.149 2.029 2.029 0 0 1-2.146-2.15 2.039 2.039 0 0 1 1.955-2.122h.193l-.002.006Zm3.227 15.525a.75.75 0 0 1-.752.75H9.75a.75.75 0 0 1-.75-.75v-1.5a.75.75 0 0 1 .752-.75h.748V12h-.75a.75.75 0 0 1-.75-.75v-1.5a.75.75 0 0 1 .752-.751h3a.75.75 0 0 1 .75.752v6.75h.75a.75.75 0 0 1 .75.749L15 18.75Z\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"byline byline--single-avatar\">\n<div class=\"avatars-container\">\n<div class=\"responsive-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2017-06-08T131939Z_1189275883_RC11B0FE7F20_RTRMADP_3_GULF-QATAR-JAZEERA-1714943623.jpg?resize=96%2C96&amp;quality=80 96w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 96px) 96px, 96px\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-dates\">\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Published On 4 Mar 2026<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\">4 Mar 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share\" data-testid=\"rich-share\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__button-wrapper\"><button class=\"rich-share__button row\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><\/p>\n<p>Click here to share on social media<\/p>\n<p><svg class=\"icon icon--share2 icon--primary icon--16 \" viewbox=\"0 0 20 16\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><title>share2<\/title><path fill=\"#000\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M11.688 9.048c-.659 0-1.252.282-1.673.733l-4.92-2.45c.016-.115.028-.232.028-.352 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16Z\"\/><path fill=\"#FBBC05\" d=\"M4.024 9.519c-.16-.48-.251-.993-.251-1.52s.09-1.04.25-1.52V4.406H1.352A7.997 7.997 0 0 0 .5 8c0 1.29.31 2.513.85 3.593l2.674-2.073Z\"\/><path fill=\"#EA4335\" d=\"M8.5 3.182c1.175 0 2.23.403 3.058 1.196l2.295-2.294C12.467.793 10.656 0 8.5 0a7.997 7.997 0 0 0-7.149 4.407L4.024 6.48C4.653 4.59 6.417 3.182 8.5 3.182Z\"\/><\/g><defs><clippath id=\"a\"><path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M.5 0h16v16H.5z\"\/><\/clippath><\/defs><\/svg><span class=\"google-preferred-source__text\">Add Al Jazeera on Google<\/span><\/button><button tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"See more of Al Jazeera\u2019s trusted journalism by adding us as a preferred source on Google.\" class=\"tooltip-accessible_trigger\"><svg class=\"icon icon--info icon--primary icon--16 google-preferred-source__info-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><title>info<\/title><path class=\"icon-main-color\" d=\"M12 0a12 12 0 1 0 0 24 12 12 0 0 0 0-24Zm-.226 3.225a2.039 2.039 0 0 1 2.155 1.924v.193a1.998 1.998 0 0 1-2.155 2.149 2.029 2.029 0 0 1-2.146-2.15 2.039 2.039 0 0 1 1.955-2.122h.193l-.002.006Zm3.227 15.525a.75.75 0 0 1-.752.75H9.75a.75.75 0 0 1-.75-.75v-1.5a.75.75 0 0 1 .752-.75h.748V12h-.75a.75.75 0 0 1-.75-.75v-1.5a.75.75 0 0 1 .752-.751h3a.75.75 0 0 1 .75.752v6.75h.75a.75.75 0 0 1 .75.749L15 18.75Z\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\">\n<p class=\"p2\">Iran coach Marziyeh Jafari says her team fear for their families at home as war rages, with players \u201cfully disconnected\u201d from them during the Women\u2019s Asian Cup.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The Iranian team are preparing to face host nation Australia on the Gold Coast on Thursday after losing their opening game of the continental competition 3-0 to South Korea.<\/p>\n<section class=\"more-on\">\n<h2 class=\"more-on__heading\">Recommended Stories<!-- --> <\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list of 4 items<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">end of list<\/span><\/section>\n<p class=\"p1\">They will kick off once more with their homeland being bombarded by the United States and Israel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">An internet blackout has made it near-impossible for players and staff to contact anyone, with Jafari thankful for the support they have received from Iranian Australians.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cWe are so happy that Iranian Australians here support us,\u201d she told Australian media on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cObviously, we have so much concern for our families and our loved ones and all other people inside our country, which we are fully disconnected with.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cHere, we are coming to play football professionally and we will do our best to concentrate on the match ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Striker Sara Didar fought back tears as she spoke about their worries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cObviously, we\u2019re all concerned and we\u2019re sad because of what has happened to Iran and our families and our loved ones,\u201d the 21-year-old told reporters.<\/p>\n<p>At least\u00a0787 people have been killed across Iran in joint US-Israeli attacks that began on Saturday, the Iranian Red Crescent Society says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Asian football chiefs have said they were offering \u201cfull support and assistance\u201d to the team, who arrived in Australia just days before US-Israeli strikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.<\/p>\n<p>Jafari and her players \u2013 who did not sing the national anthem before the defeat to South Korea \u2013 declined to comment on the death of Khamenei when asked by reporters.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">A pocket of Iranian fans at Monday\u2019s game waved the red, green and white national colours and some pre-Islamic revolution flags, and chanted support for the team.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cWe feel very good that we see many Iranians supporting us, it really encourages us and we really appreciate it,\u201d Didar said. \u201cI know the stadium will be full tomorrow, and hope that we have a great atmosphere.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Australia midfielder Amy Sayer praised the Iranian team for their courage in playing under such difficult circumstances.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cOur heart goes out to them and their families, it\u2019s a difficult situation and it\u2019s really brave of them to be able to be here and to perform,\u201d Sayer told reporters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThey put on a really strong performance, even with the political climate that\u2019s going on and the struggles that they might be going through.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThe best we can do to contribute is to just give them the best game of football [on Thursday] that we\u2019re able and to show them the respect on the field. Hopefully, the situation improves and they can keep staying safe in Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Thursday\u2019s game will be only the second meeting between the two women\u2019s national teams, with Australia winning the previous match at Perth in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>Australia, the 2010 Asian Cup champions and semifinalists at the 2023 World Cup they co-hosted with New Zealand, opened their 2026 Asian Cup campaign with a 1-0 win over the Philippines, and can secure a quarterfinal spot with a win over Iran.<\/p>\n<p>The Iranians are in Australia hoping to qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, which means they have to finish in the top eight in the Asian Cup.<\/p>\n<p>Iran made their historic debut at the last Asian Cup in India in 2022, which made them national heroes in a country where women\u2019s rights are severely restricted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Players contesting the Women\u2019s Asian Cup in Australia share fears for loved ones at home amid US-Israeli attacks. Listen to this article\u00a0|\u00a04 mins info Published On 4 Mar 20264 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share plus2googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Iran coach Marziyeh Jafari says her team fear for their [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13856,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13855","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-east-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13855","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13855"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13855\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13856"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13855"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13855"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13855"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}