Al Jazeera breaks down the events surrounding the Iranian team – from the national anthem row to the players’ escape.

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The Iranian women’s football team’s participation in the Asian Cup 2026 in Australia came to an end on Sunday, but the team’s journey at the tournament and in the country continues to create a stir after some of the players chose to seek asylum in the host nation.

The tournament began on March 1, a day after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran that killed its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as about 170 others, including many other military and political leaders and a number of students of an elementary school for girls.