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Saquon’s hurdle, Josh Allen’s heroics: The NFL season’s best moments, week by week

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Saquon’s hurdle, Josh Allen’s heroics: The NFL season’s best moments, week by week

After 272 games and 1,387 touchdowns — and Camryn Bynum’s many interpretive dances — the NFL’s regular season is officially in the books. It was an awesome, serpentine and sometimes surreal four months of football. Cheers to all of us that made it through and did not blink.

Of course, the playoffs are a zero-sum game, and only one person will be commemorated Most Valuable Player. But there was so much to celebrate across the past 18 weeks, and the Super Bowl outcome certainly does not negate all the coolness that preceded it.

Here, we’ll remember the top three on-field moments from each weekly slate. May this be a space for recollection and appreciation as we trek toward the postseason.

Week 1

An un-Likely finish — The games kicked off with an absolute banger in Ravens-Chiefs. Lamar Jackson led a furious final push down the field, capped with Isaiah Likely’s spectacular would-be game-tying touchdown snag. Better still, Baltimore’s offense looked ready to go for the two-point conversion and steal a win. Upon further review, Likely’s toe grazed the back of the end zone. Kansas City eked out the narrowest of wins — a season’s motif if there ever was one.

Saquon Barkley’s first Eagles score — What a bonkers introduction by Philly’s new running back. Barkley established himself from the jump in Brazil, and his three TDs were the deciding factor in a win over the Packers that went to the brink.

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A new-age rivalry in overtime — The latest episode of the Goff-Stafford Exchange was a thriller. Week 1’s Sunday night game went back and forth for 70 minutes, sealed by David Montgomery’s walk-off plunge.

Week 2

Jefferson Starship — The ascending Sam Darnold to the intergalactic Justin Jefferson, for 97 yards, six points and one of the loudest crowd reactions of the year.

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Sack City — Aidan Hutchinson notched 4 1/2 sacks in one afternoon, wholly terrorizing the Tampa Bay front line. We didn’t know it, but this would be the triumphant last highlight before a broken leg truncated his season.

Another Bengals-Chiefs stunner — With under a minute to go, Patrick Mahomes and company trailed 25-23 and faced fourth down from their own territory. They converted on a deep ball to Rashee Rice, only for a Wanya Morris penalty to set them back to fourth-and-16. The subsequent try fell incomplete … but a pass interference call on Daijahn Anthony gave the Chiefs new life, and ultimately set up their game-winning 51-yard field goal.

Week 3

Hook-and-Lions — If video-game makers choose to revive the Backyard Football or NFL Street franchises, well, here’s their mood board:

Daniels goes deep — Jayden Daniels forced a collective double-take with the start to his pro career: fourteen consecutive scoring drives (excluding two kneel downs), obliterating the previous rookie record. The few remaining skeptics noted that Washington’s No. 2 pick was relying on short throws and cautious offense. They were promptly quieted on Monday night.

A modern-day Mossing — Jauan Jennings put Quentin Lake on a poster. It was the jewel of his breakout three-touchdown game in Los Angeles.

Week 4

Ogunbowale calls game — The Texans passing offense was sporting Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell … yet it was journeyman back Dare Ogunbowale who caught the game-winning touchdown from C.J. Stroud. He got to celebrate in the corner end zone with his sister, WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale.

Throwing a perfect game — Once again finding itself in a national TV spot, Detroit’s offense was systematically grooving against the Seahawks. Jared Goff connected on all 18 of his throws, setting an NFL record, and he also caught a touchdown pass from Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Koo, calm and collected — In a decidedly NFC South-y game, Younghoe Koo drilled a 58-yarder for the win in Atlanta.

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Week 5

Surtain chance — Pat Surtain II’s 100-yard pick-six may have re-routed Denver’s season. It certainly trumpeted the arrival of this Broncos defense, and kick-started the fourth-year corner’s campaign for Defensive Player of the Year.

Thursday night chaos — This 36-30 overtime marathon won by the Falcons was sneakily one of the most fun watches of 2024. On a short comeback route, KhaDarel Hodge broke a tackle and then outran a half-dozen Buccaneers for the walk-off.

“He threw him away like a rag doll!” — Both Ravens-Bengals matchups this season were pure serotonin releases. The world would be a better place if we had more Ravens and Bengals. More on this later. For now, play us out, Kevin Harlan:

Week 6

Shenault’s vault — The new kickoff rules took some getting used to, with the landing zone being particularly harsh on the eyes. But Laviska Shenault’s 97-yard house call looked instantly familiar.

Turning back time — Thinking about these New York Jets is bad for our well-being, and there were few highlights from their dystopian season. But Aaron Rodgers connecting on yet another Hail Mary was undoubtedly one of them. Allen Lazard was the recipient of this buzzer-beating 52-yard heave vs. Buffalo.

Courtland’s catch — Superhuman stuff from Sutton here.

Week 7

Bates’ first magic moment — With the 4-1 Lions and 5-0 Vikings scrapping for supremacy atop the NFC North, everything came down to Detroit’s rookie kicker Jake Bates … a kickoff specialist and soccer player in college. But Bates was right on the money to give Detroit the win 31-29. We’ll revisit him shortly.

Conner in the clutch — For a moment, the Arizona revival (Cardinalissance?) looked like it had staying power. It was hard to not dig the desert vibes after James Conner plowed his way into game-winning field goal range on Thursday night.

Getting tricky with it — Geno Smith slung a swing pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who about-faced and heaved it field. The loping ball hung in the air forever, only for DK Metcalf to come down with a particularly acrobatic grab.

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Week 8

Winston for the win — Two more football axioms that rang true in 2024: The Ravens will find bizarre ways to lose games, and Jameis Winston will be a vehicle for metaphysical chaos. Kyle Hamilton dropped what would’ve been the clinching interception. With the extra chance, Winston hit Cedric Tillman for the decisive touchdown. As we did for the aforementioned Jets, we’ll do our best to limit your exposure to the Cleveland Browns … but this was a cool moment.

“It’s a miracle! It’s Noah Brown” — Are we positive this really happened? Was it some sort of fever dream conjured to torment the Chicago Bears?

(Almost) Paid in Full — Week 8 nearly had a second completed Hail Mary. Much like the Ravens and Bengals, the Falcons and Bucs combined for two deeply entertaining games this season. Rakim Jarrett caught Baker Mayfield’s prayer ball but couldn’t keep himself in the end zone.

Week 9

Come What Maye — The 2024 Patriots may well be remembered for botching the No. 1 draft pick and immediately canning their coach. But this was bonkers, delightful and borderline-inexplicable:

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Saquon breaks Madden — When EA Sports has to develop new animations based on something that happened in real-life football, well, you’re singularly awesome and deserve extended cheers. Saquon Barkley’s “reverse hurdle” was instantly canonized.

One-handed walk-off — Matthew Stafford’s dime and Demarcus Robinson’s showmanship not only made the year-end highlight reel but also helped decide the log-jammed NFC West. If the Rams make a run this postseason, this game-winner will be remembered as a primary propellant.

Week 10

Chiefs block upset bid — Kansas City routinely reduced football fans to a Jesse Pinkman impression … they couldn’t keep getting away with these last-second victories. Denver looked set to blemish the Chiefs’ undefeated campaign, until Wil Lutz’s 35-yarder was stuffed at the line. Kevin Harlan hit that upper vocal register accordingly.

Everything about Bengals-Ravens — In what may well be considered the game of the year, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson traded dizzying haymakers until the final whistle. The final numbers: Burrow threw for 428 yards and four scores, while Ja’Marr Chase had an absurd 11-catch, 264-yard, 3-TD stat line. But Jackson had four touchdowns of his own, and Baltimore’s defense hung tight on the deciding two-point conversion. To paraphrase Tracy Morgan, live every week like it’s Bengals-Ravens week.

Bates’ second magic moment — We promised we’d circle back here, too. Detroit survived a five-interception Goff game thanks to Bates, who squeezed clutch kicks of 58 and 52 yards between the uprights.

Week 11

Un-Bear-able — Caleb Williams had pieced together a spirited if imperfect first game since the waning of the Shane Waldron era. Cairo Santos was set up to lift Chicago over its archrival. Then special teamer Karl Brooks won the gap, elevated and got a hand on the football for a wild Packers win.

McPherson’s misses — The Sunday night squabble-up between the Bengals and Chargers was also Game of the Year material. Cincinnati completed a massive comeback, down 24-6 at halftime, on the heels of two fourth-down touchdown passes. We can only imagine how sorely the Bengals want those biffed Evan McPherson tries back.

“The play of the year in the NFL” — Chiefs-Bills never disappoints. Without further ado, Jim Nantz:

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Week 12

Barkley’s blasts — The Eagles’ star running back rushed for a franchise-best 255 yards, with 182 coming in the second half. Momentum-seizing house calls of 70 and 72 yards deflated the Rams and cemented Philly as a team to fear. As Mike Tirico said: “What a night, and what a player.”

Mamba mentality — Much-needed fourth-down stop? Yup. Galvanizing defensive moment for Mike McDonald’s group? For sure. Coby Bryant for six? Put it on the board.

How does this keep happening?! — Jayden Daniels seemingly fit a lifetime of heroics into his rookie season. Here, he lofted a desperation ball to Terry McLaurin between a Cowboys prevent zone, only for McLaurin to hit the accelerator and stun the football universe.

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Don’t worry, Austin Seibert’s subsequent extra point sailed wide, recalling an all-time NFL blooper from the Saints and Jaguars in 2003.

Week 13

Time keeps on slippin’ — Caleb Williams had a shot at upsetting the Lions in Detroit on Thanksgiving. It could’ve been a signature career moment. But some disarmingly strange sideline decisions left the Bears with no time left. Coach Matt Eberflus was fired the next day.

Vengeance in the Meadowlands — Geno Smith and Leonard Williams each stuck it to their former team in the Seahawks’ 26-21 win over the Jets. The latter stole the day with a soul-crushing 92-yard pick-six of Aaron Rodgers.

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Blizzard in Buffalo — If/when a Josh Allen statue gets put up in Orchard Park, it just might look like this:

Week 14

Lord Byron — Safe to say that Kirk Cousins did not enjoy his return trip to Minnesota. Byron Murphy, in his sixth year, had his best season to date as a chaos element in Brian Flores’ defense.

Fantasy football history — Every snap of Josh Allen’s herculean Week 14 performance deserves consideration here. Even if the Bills didn’t win this relay race in Los Angeles against the Rams, those employing Allen on their fantasy teams certainly got the dub. Buffalo’s captain tallied six total touchdowns: three through the air to go with his 342 passing yards, and three on the ground as part of his 82 rushing yards.

Sweet Charbonnet — Zach Charbonnet, Seattle’s second-year second-stringer, enjoyed a massive day against the Cardinals. He evaded tacklers and scrapped for extra space all afternoon long, capped by an electrifying 51-yard scoring burst.

Week 15

Yes, another Josh Allen highlight — Take your pick from the presumptive MVP’s cinematic effort against the Lions. Perhaps it was when he escaped two pass rushers and threw across his body to connect with James Cook. Maybe it’s his fake-out keeper to walk into the end zone and give his Bills a 14-0 lead. It could certainly be the evasion of a stunting Josh Paschal that created a Keon Coleman chunk play. Allen finished game with 430 yards, four touchdowns and a whole bunch of jaw-dropping plays.

Pose for the Kamara — For the second time this season, a receiver’s surprise drop back was redeemed by a sublime catch. Cedrick Wilson Jr. is not a professional quarterback, but Alvin Kamara is not a professional wideout. It balanced out here:

Bonitto cashes in — After scanning the list, here’s a necessary reminder that not every trick play works out. Nik Bonitto accentuated his spectacular season with a fourth-quarter defensive touchdown off Indianapolis’ attempted deception.

Week 16

Jourdan Lewis, by sheer will — Tampa Bay looked on its way to a Sunday night comeback in Dallas, with a streaking Jalen McMillan having a step on the Cowboys secondary. Lewis had other ideas, and his first interception of the season was ice-cold.

Crowder for the win — Once again, Jayden Daniels with some late-game alchemy. Washington beat Philadelphia in the final minute, after Daniels connected with Jamison Crowder, who started the game with four catches all season and finished it with a game-winning touchdown.

Jared to Jameson Williams — This was a riveting play in itself, with the Lions’ primary vertical threat getting loose for a clean 82-yard strike. But the coolest moment was when the camera panned to receivers coach Antwaan Randle El, who celebrated his wideout’s catharsis with the joy of a proud father.

Week 17

Myles Garrett’s greatness — With a sack of Miami quarterback Tyler Huntley, Cleveland’s prodigious edge rusher became the first player in league history to post at least 14 sacks in four straight seasons.

Lamar Jackson breaks Vick’s record on Christmas — Beyoncé is a transcendent talent. But she did not break Michael Vick’s career QB rushing mark. That was, of course, the two-time MVP under center in Baltimore.

Mims is Him(s) — The enduring image may be “Joe Shiesty” dancing in the end zone after the overtime victory, but we should never let this miraculous fourth-down connection go unrecognized. If aliens beamed down to our planet and asked why we like football so much, we’d probably show them this:

Week 18

Special revenge — The stakes were not quite the same, but good on Chicago for avenging its Week 11 special teams disaster against Green Bay. Between Cairo Santos’ redemption on the game-winning field goal and a crafty misdirected punt return for 94 yards by Josh Blackwell, the Bears won Sunday thanks to their kicking unit.

Wiggins caps it off — They already had one bewildering Browns loss this season. Could the Ravens find themselves in some wonky wild-card territory by dropping Saturday’s finale? Nope. Rookie corner Nate Wiggins certainly wasn’t going to let it get that far.

Barnett’s big man TD — What’s a season-long highlight reel without a defensive lineman’s stumbling scoop-and-score? Derek Barnett seemed predestined to cross the plane this past Sunday.

(Top illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; photos: Mitchell Leff, Jonathan Bachman, Cooper Neill, Bryan M. Bennett, Andy Lyons / Getty Images)

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Jon Jones requests UFC release after Dana White says legend was ‘never’ considered him for White House card

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March 10, 2026

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Jon Jones requests UFC release after Dana White says legend was ‘never’ considered him for White House card

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Mixed martial arts legend Jon Jones ended his retirement from UFC simply because he wanted a spot on the “Freedom 250” fight card at the White House in June. 

But, when UFC CEO Dana White announced the card during UFC 326 this past weekend, Jones wasn’t among the fighters. As a result, he has requested a release from his UFC contract. 

White was candid when asked about Jones following the UFC 326 card. 

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Jon Jones of the United States of America reacts after his TKO victory against Stipe Miocic of the United States of America in the UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 16, 2024 in New York City.  ((Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images))

“Never, ever, ever, which I told you guys a hundred thousands times, was Jon Jones ever even remotely in my mind to fight at the White House,” White explained, per CBS Sports. “Some guy with Meta Glasses filmed him talking about his hips – that his hips are so bad. And I don’t know if you guys saw that flag football game where he can barely run. Jon Jones retired because of his hips. He’s got arthritis in his hips. Apparently, doctors say he should have a hip replacement.”

White added that “the Jon Jones thing is bulls—,” saying that he texted the fighter’s lawyer saying he would never be on the White House card despite Jones saying he was in negotiations for it. 

UFC ANNOUNCES CARD FOR WHITE HOUSE EVENT

The Meta Glasses incident White is referring to came from a viral video, where Jones, unaware he was being filmed, discussed issues with his hips to a fan. 

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On Monday, Jones composed a thorough response to White’s comments about him and the White House Card. He previously posted and deleted social media explanations, but Monday’s appeared to be his final statement on the matter. 

UFC President Dana White speaks after UFC Fight Night at Toyota Center on Feb. 21, 2026.  (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)

“Yes, I have arthritis in my hip and it’s painful, but that doesn’t mean I can’t fight,” Jones, who retired a heavyweight champion in 2025, said. “So let me get this straight, if I had accepted the lowball offer, suddenly my hip would be fine and I’d be on the White House card? That doesn’t make sense. I even received stem cell treatment last week to get ready for the White House card, and training camp was scheduled to start today. I was preparing to be ready. 

“I understand business deals fall through sometimes, but going out publicly and saying things that aren’t true isn’t right. After everything I’ve given to the UFC, the years, the title defenses, the fights, hearing that I’m ‘done’ is disappointing. Especially when as recently as Friday UFC was calling me trying to get me on that White House card for a much lower number.”

Jones finished his statement by saying he “respectfully” asks to be released from his UFC contract.

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Jon Jones enters the ring before facing Stipe Miocic in the UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024 in New York City, New York. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

“No more spins, no more games. Thank you to the real fans who know what’s up,” he wrote. 

The UFC did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Fox News Digital.

Jones is considered one of the best UFC fighters of all time, owning a 28-1-1 record, which includes his last bout with Stipe Miocic, knocking him out to take the heavyweight title belt. He is also a two-time light heavyweight champion. 

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Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

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With U.S. at war with Iran, political upheaval could engulf World Cup

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March 10, 2026

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With U.S. at war with Iran, political upheaval could engulf World Cup

Twelve days ago the U.S., a World Cup host country, launched a full-scale bombing campaign against Iran, a country that has qualified to play in the tournament. That’s never happened before.

Five days later, that same World Cup host began military operations inside the borders of Ecuador, another World Cup qualifier, half a world away. That’s never happened before either.

With the tournament scheduled to kick off in three months, those events have soccer scholar Jonathan Wilson questioning whether it’s wise for the World Cup to go on at all.

“It seems to me, for each passing day, it’s less and less likely that the World Cup can happen,” he said.

That take seems unduly alarmist said David Goldblatt, a British sportswriter and sociologist who is a visiting professor at Pitzer College in Claremont. Anything short of a full-scale war inside the U.S. would not be enough to pull the plug on the tournament now, he said. Especially with FIFA expecting revenues of as much as $11 billion.

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“I mean, it’s not a good look,” Goldblatt conceded. “And certainly when set against FIFA’s official pronouncements on its role in encouraging world peace and cosmopolitan celebrations of a universal humanity, none of that sits terribly easily.

“But in terms of actually running the World Cup, I don’t think it’s going to make very much difference at all.”

However, with the Trump administration open to engaging in more international conflicts, there’s little doubt this World Cup, the largest and most complex in history, will also be the most political in history as well.

Complicating things further is the fact the current conflict in the Middle East hasn’t been limited to just the U.S. and Iran. Iranian missiles have hit both Qatar and Saudi Arabia, among other countries, and Jordan has fired on U.S. assets.

Those three countries are World Cup qualifiers as well.

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The fate of a soccer tournament pales in importance to the death and destruction the conflagration in the Middle East has produced, of course. But the need for unity is the very reason there’s a World Cup in the first place.

When French soccer administrator Jules Rimet founded the tournament 96 years ago, he believed soccer could be a tool for international peace. And in the early years of the tournament, Rimet, FIFA’s longest-serving president and a talented diplomat, was able to limit the impact of geopolitics on the World Cup, watering down Mussolini’s influence on the 1934 World Cup, for example, and steering the 1938 tournament away from Hitler’s Germany.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has taken a far different approach, courting President Donald Trump’s support despite his growing number of global conflicts.

A week before bombs began falling on Iran, Infantino appeared at the inaugural meeting of Trump’s Board of Peace wearing a red cap with ‘USA’ on the front and the numbers ‘45-47’ — a reference to Trump’s non-consecutive presidencies. That act was so blatantly partisan, IOC president Kirsty Coventry said her organization would investigate whether Infantino, an IOC member, breached the terms of the group’s charter, which requires members to act independent of political interests.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino holds up a USA hat as he attends the inaugural meeting for the Board of Peace at the Institute of Peace in Washington on Feb. 19.

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(Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

“Infantino has absolutely breached every FIFA protocol on neutrality,” said Wilson, author of “The Power and Glory: The History of the World Cup.”

“Absolute neutrality is always impossible and not desirable, but it has clearly gone way, way, way beyond. The peace prize looked grotesque at the time. It looks even worse now. And I can’t see how the future will look kindly on Infantino. I think Infantino has to some extent legitimized Trump.”

This is hardly new behavior from Infantino, who had close relationships with Vladimir Putin ahead of the 2018 tournament played in Russia and Qatar’s leaders ahead of the 2022 tournament despite their well-known human rights violations.

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The list of countries Infantino is asking to overlook poor relations with the country hosting the majority of World Cup games this summer is growing.

Consider that Denmark, which administers Greenland, an autonomous territory Trump has also threatened to invade, can qualify for the tournament in a European playoff that will take place later this month. Then there’s World Cup qualifiers Haiti, Ivory Coast and Senegal, who aren’t at war with the U.S. but whose citizens have been banned from entering the country to cheer for their teams. That completely contradicts a promise from Infantino, who said “everybody will be welcome” at the 2026 World Cup.

“If I had a crystal ball I could tell you now what is going to happen,” Heimo Schirgi, the World Cup chief operating officer for FIFA, said Monday. “But obviously the situation is developing. It’s changing day by day and we are monitoring closely. [But] the World Cup will go on right? The World Cup is too big and we hope that everyone can participate that has qualified.”

Goldblatt, the Pitzer professor, said Infantino’s action are understandable since he has few cards to play against Trump.

President Trump speaks as he receives the FIFA Peace Prize while FIFA president Gianni Infantino applauds Friday.

President Trump speaks as he receives the FIFA Peace Prize as FIFA president Gianni Infantino applauds on Dec. 5 the Kennedy Center in Washington.

(Patrick Smith / Getty Images)

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“What’s Infantino going to do? What levers can you pull?” he asked. “You can threaten to take it away. That’s not happening. Moral admonishment? Who’s going to take that from FIFA? It is a farcical idea that anybody thinks that the president of FIFA has any kind of collective moral authority or any role as a spokesperson for the progressive part of the world.

“They may fantasize that this is the case. But it is morally and politically absurd that any of us should expect that of these people. So if you are Infantino and that is the case, you know what works with Trump? What works is flattery. So of course he’s gone down that path.”

The games, Goldblatt said, will go on even if bombs are still falling. And that may not be an entirely bad thing.

“Football’s a great distraction. That’s partly why it’s so popular,” he said. “It will be virtually impossible, if the war continues, for that not to be a central element of like, the meaning and the purpose of what we’re all doing here.

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“How we’ll feel and what it will look like, I don’t know. It will be very strange. Football is unpredictable and extraordinary. Something will happen that will warm our souls.”

⚽ You have read the latest installment of On Soccer with Kevin Baxter. The weekly column takes you behind the scenes and shines a spotlight on unique stories. Listen to Baxter on this week’s episode of the “Corner of the Galaxy” podcast.

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Australia grants asylum to 5 Iranian women’s soccer players amid Iran conflict

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March 10, 2026

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Australia grants asylum to 5 Iranian women’s soccer players amid Iran conflict

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Australia granted asylum to five players from the Iranian women’s soccer team who were visiting for a tournament when the U.S.-Israeli attacks against Iran began.

Australian federal police officers on Tuesday transported the five women from their hotel in Gold Coast, Australia, to a “safe location” after they made asylum requests to meet with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and to finalize the processing of their humanitarian visas.

“Last night I was able to tell five women from the Iranian Women’s Soccer team that they are welcome to stay in Australia, to be safe and have a home here,” Burke said on X.

The move comes after the team refused to sing the Iranian anthem before their first Women’s Asian Cup match early last week against South Korea, although they later sang and saluted the anthem in two subsequent matches, including ahead of their final match, when they were eliminated by the Philippines.

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IRANIAN WOMEN’S SOCCER FANS SHOW SUPPORT FOR TRUMP AS TEAM APPEARS TO PIVOT ON NATIONAL ANTHEM STANCE

Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke poses with five Iranian women soccer players who have been granted asylum in Australia, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Australia Ministry of Home Affairs)

“I don’t want to begin to imagine how difficult that decision is for each of the individual women, but certainly last night it was joy, it was relief,” Burke told reporters after signing the documents. “People were very excited about embarking on a life in Australia.”

The five women said they were happy for their names and pictures to be published, according to Burke, who emphasized that the players wanted to make clear that they were not political activists.

The Iranian team arrived in Australia for the tournament before the war against Iran began on Feb. 28.

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After the team was eliminated from the tournament over the weekend, they faced potentially returning to a country still under bombardment. The team’s head coach, Marziyeh Jafari, said on Sunday the players “want to come back to Iran as soon as we can.”

An official squad list named 26 players, as well as Jafari and other coaches.

While only five players were granted asylum, Burke said the offer was given to everyone on the team.

IRAN FLAG REMOVED FROM PARALYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY AFTER SOLE ATHLETE WITHDRAWS OVER TRAVEL SAFETY CONCERNS

Iran players during their national anthem ahead of the Women’s Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAPImage via AP)

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“These women are tremendously popular in Australia, but we realize they are in a terribly difficult situation with the decisions that they’re making,” Burke said. “The opportunity will continue to be there for them to talk to Australian officials if they wish to.”

It remains unclear when the remaining players will leave Australia.

“Australians have been moved by the plight of these brave women,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters. “They’re safe here and they should feel at home here.”

“They then had to consider that and do it in a way that did not present any danger to them or to their families and friends back home in Iran,” he continued.

The asylum offer came after U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday called on Australia to grant asylum to any team member who wanted it.

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Trump had blasted Australia on social media, saying Australia was “making a terrible humanitarian mistake” by allowing the team to be “forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed.”

Supporters react towards a bus transporting Iranian woman players following their Women’s Asian Cup soccer match against the Philippines on the Gold Coast, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)

“The U.S. will take them if you won’t,” Trump said, despite his administration’s efforts to limit the number of immigrants in the U.S. who can receive asylum for political purposes.

Just hours later, Trump praised Albanese in another post.

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“He’s on it! Five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way,” Trump wrote.

Albanese said Trump had called him for “a very positive conversation,” about the issue. The prime minister said he explained “the action that we’d undertaken over the previous 48 hours” to support the women.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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