Iranian Women's National Team Star Weeps as She Talks About the Conflict in Her Country

Iranian women's national team player Sara Didar could not hold back her tears when interviewed about the conflict in her country (Instagram/@iran_football_federation).

JAKARTA - Iran Women's National Team (Timnas) striker Sara Didar held back tears while expressing her hope that her country would remain strong and enthusiastic amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Ahead of the 2026 Women's Asian Cup group match against Australia on the Gold Coast on Thursday, March 5, 2026, Didar spoke and shed tears when expressing his concerns for his country and the families of his teammates.

Iran experienced an internet blackout days after the assassination of their supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, by a US-Israeli attack last weekend, making contact between players in Australia and their families increasingly difficult.

"Obviously we are concerned and saddened by what is happening in Iran and our families there. I really hope our country will get good news. I hope my country will remain strong and enthusiastic," Didar told reporters on the Gold Coast.

The 21-year-old then began to cry when he heard the translator deliver his answer in English before the striker rushed to the exit.

Iran trained until late at night on the Gold Coast on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, where the early stages of their open training session were interrupted by a video drone flying over Pizzey Park.

Canada was docked points at the 2024 Paris Olympics for spying on an opponent, but the organizers of the 2026 Women's Asian Cup suspect this brief incident was a joke by local kids.

Iranian team staff, who quickly began filming video of the device buzzing overhead, insisted it did not belong to the Iranian team before the drone disappeared over nearby Burleigh Leagues.

There is heightened tension around Iran, where players and head coach Marziyeh Jafari have refused to comment on the country's political turmoil.

"We are very happy that Iranian-Australians here support us. Obviously we are very concerned about our families and loved ones, as well as everyone in our country, who we can't reach at all."

"Here, we came to play football professionally. We will do our best to concentrate on the upcoming matches," said Iran coach Jafari.

The Iranian women's national team did a kind of protest by remaining silent during the national anthem before the 0-3 defeat against South Korea on Monday, March 2, 2026.

Some Iranian supporters waved the flag of the Iranian Empire during the defeat against South Korea - the country's official flag before the overthrow of the US-backed Shah in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

No wonder, Australian coach Joe Montemurro, before the match asked his team to greet the Iranian people with empathy for the match where there was an increase in police presence.

"We can't talk about what has happened, where they came from. Money we can talk about is just about us in this beautiful tournament."

"We want to give them the best tournament possible in terms of giving them a life-changing experience. For us, it's about showing humanity, respect, and showing them how beautiful we are as a country, and how beautiful we are as Australians," said Montemurro.

Meanwhile, the match on Thursday, March 5, 2026, was the first time Australia had faced Iran since winning 2-0 in the 2023 Olympic Qualifiers.

On match day, Australia won the match 4-0 to ensure they qualified for the 2026 Women's Asian Cup knockout stage.

Meanwhile, Iran is still lurking in Group A. They are still the key with two defeats so far. The remaining one match against the Philippines on March 8, 2026.

The victory makes it possible for Iran to still keep the hope of qualifying for the knockout phase through the third best ranking.