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

Former U.S. shot prima Megan Rapinoe said retired successful support of nan Iranian women’s shot squad amid nan players’ tests and tribulations complete nan past fewer weeks while competing successful Australia.

The Iranian women’s shot squad was successful Australia earlier this period to compete successful nan Women’s Asian Cup. Players were seen refusing to singing their country’s national anthem arsenic nan U.S. and Israel launched a associated subject run connected nan Iranian regime. The players were dubbed "wartime traitors" by an Iranian broadcaster for their decisions during nan 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 nan players asylum successful nan country. At slightest 2 players stayed successful Australia while nan remainder of nan squad made it backmost to Iran.

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

"I’m conscionable reasoning astir this successful nan discourse of, like, nan immense unit that these young adults and these young women are nether to make a determination for illustration this," she said connected nan "A Touch More" podcast. "Like, nan unthinkable courageousness and bravery it would return knowing what that could perchance mean for their family backmost home. The bravery and courageousness to protestation nan nationalist anthem, fundamentally successful protestation of nan Iranian authorities and not singing nan 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 support their decisions to activity asylum and activity a amended life and to effort to flight an incredibly oppressive authorities successful that situation. I don’t cognize what’s going connected pinch them and why immoderate of them near and nevertheless that is. I dream nan ones that returned location person done truthful nether their ain free will and prime and that their families are safe, that they’re safe and their friends are safe. I dream nan ones that person chosen to enactment consciousness a consciousness of bid and dream astir a imaginable for a caller life successful Australia aliases otherwise.

Iran players respond during their nationalist anthem up of nan Women's Asian Cup shot lucifer betwixt Iran and nan 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 former U.S. shot star faced scrutiny for not speaking retired arsenic nan saga was unfolding successful nan country. Piers Morgan was among those who branded Rapinoe arsenic "hypocritical."

"The soundlessness complete this from Rapinoe, and truthful galore expected ‘feminists’ for illustration her, is truthful telling, damning, and hypocritical," he 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 thief prevention their lives." 

She didn’t reside her critics successful her latest podcast section pinch Sue Bird.

Initially, 7 of nan Iranian women’s shot players accepted asylum but turned astir and declined nan opportunity astatine nan past minute. Two players who stayed were seen training pinch 1 of nan country’s premier clubs past week.

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

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

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

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"Hopefully nan 2 who are remaining get nan protection they need, but we conscionable dream that those who person returned are besides safe."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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