South Korea opened their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Iran on the Gold Coast, as Choe Yu-ri’s first-half strike set the tone despite a resilient defensive display from Maryam Yektaei and her side

The post-Olympics news cycle was a dizzying display of handwringing over the supposed victimhood of empowered, badass American female athletes. If we were to believe much of our media and feminist commentators,

There are concerns over the safety of Iran's women's soccer team after Iranian state television called for them to be severely punished for not singing the national anthem during the Asian Cup

The team stood silently as the anthem was played before they took on South Korea in the Asian Cup in Queensland, Australia

Iran's women's soccer team was branded "traitors" after declining to sing their national anthem at the Asian Cup in Australia, fueling fear for the women if they returned home.

Iranian athletes have previously opted against singing their country's national anthem as a form of protest against its regime.

Five players have defected from the Iran women’s soccer team and are being cared for in a safe house operated by the Australian Federal Police. Sources with direct knowledge of the event, speaking anonymously due to the ongoing danger faced by the squad,