This week, Iran’s women’s football team is expected to touch down in Australia to compete in their second Women’s Asian Cup. But exactly who will arrive, or what condition they will be in when they get here, is anyone’s guess.
Amid a backdrop of anti-government protests and subsequent violent crackdowns by the authorities over the past few months, Iran’s top women footballers have been struggling to prepare for one of the biggest tournaments of their lives.
“The prevailing mood among the players appears to be one of anxiety and emotional strain,” said Raha Pourbakhsh, an Iranian sports journalist based in London. “Many are balancing their professional role as national representatives with personal concerns about safety, family, and potential repercussions.”
As the start of the Asian Cup nears
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