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Deadspin | OpTic Texas, Los Angeles Thieves in semifinals at CDL Stage 3 Minor   OpTic Texas, the Los Angeles Thieves, FaZe Vegas and the Miami Heretics won their quarterfinal matches on Saturday at the Call of Duty League Stage 3 Minor.  The semifinals on Sunday will pit Texas against Los Angeles, then Vegas against Miami with the winners in the grand final later in the day.  All 12 CDL teams are competing in the tournament, which will reward ,000 and 30 CDL points to the champion. The single-elimination bracket is seeded based on teams’ standing following Major 2. All matches are best-of-five.  On Saturday, OpTic Texas started fast, then took a loss before eliminating Toronto KOI. Texas won 250-219 on Den Hardpoint and 6-3 on Gridlock Search and Destroy. Toronto stayed alive with a 5-1 victory on Scar Overload before OpTic secured the match with a 250-81 triumph on Scar Hardpoint.  The Los Angeles Thieves swept G2 Minnesota 3-0, winning 250-229 on Sake Hardpoint, 6-3 on Scar Search and Destroy and 6-0 on Scar Overload.  FaZe Vegas ousted the Riyadh Falcons 3-1, opening with a 250-146 win on Den Hardpoint and 6-2 decision on Fringe Search and Destroy. The Falcons forced a fourth map by taking Scar Overload 5-3, but Vegas emerged with a 250-187 triumph on Sake Hardpoint to finish the match.  The Miami Heretics dropped the opener to the Paris Gentle Mates, 250-236 on Sake Hardpoint. Then it was all Heretics, winning 6-3 on Fringe Search and Destroy, 4-3 on Scar Overload and 250-203 on Colossus Hardpoint.  Call of Duty League’s Stage 3 Minor prize pool   1. ,000, 30 CDL points  2. no money, 20 CDL points  3-4. no money, 10 CDL points  5-8. no money, no CDL points — Toronto KOI, G2 Minnesota, Riyadh Falcons, Paris Gentle Mates  9-12. no money, no CDL points — Carolina Royal Ravens, Cloud9 New York, Vancouver Surge, Boston Breach  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #OpTic #Texas #Los #Angeles #Thieves #semifinals #CDL #Stage #Minor

Deadspin | OpTic Texas, Los Angeles Thieves in semifinals at CDL Stage 3 Minor

OpTic Texas, the Los Angeles Thieves, FaZe Vegas and the Miami Heretics won their quarterfinal matches on Saturday at the Call of Duty League Stage 3 Minor.

The semifinals on Sunday will pit Texas against Los Angeles, then Vegas against Miami with the winners in the grand final later in the day.

All 12 CDL teams are competing in the tournament, which will reward $20,000 and 30 CDL points to the champion. The single-elimination bracket is seeded based on teams’ standing following Major 2. All matches are best-of-five.

On Saturday, OpTic Texas started fast, then took a loss before eliminating Toronto KOI. Texas won 250-219 on Den Hardpoint and 6-3 on Gridlock Search and Destroy. Toronto stayed alive with a 5-1 victory on Scar Overload before OpTic secured the match with a 250-81 triumph on Scar Hardpoint.

The Los Angeles Thieves swept G2 Minnesota 3-0, winning 250-229 on Sake Hardpoint, 6-3 on Scar Search and Destroy and 6-0 on Scar Overload.

FaZe Vegas ousted the Riyadh Falcons 3-1, opening with a 250-146 win on Den Hardpoint and 6-2 decision on Fringe Search and Destroy. The Falcons forced a fourth map by taking Scar Overload 5-3, but Vegas emerged with a 250-187 triumph on Sake Hardpoint to finish the match.

The Miami Heretics dropped the opener to the Paris Gentle Mates, 250-236 on Sake Hardpoint. Then it was all Heretics, winning 6-3 on Fringe Search and Destroy, 4-3 on Scar Overload and 250-203 on Colossus Hardpoint.


Call of Duty League’s Stage 3 Minor prize pool

1. $20,000, 30 CDL points

2. no money, 20 CDL points

3-4. no money, 10 CDL points

5-8. no money, no CDL points — Toronto KOI, G2 Minnesota, Riyadh Falcons, Paris Gentle Mates

9-12. no money, no CDL points — Carolina Royal Ravens, Cloud9 New York, Vancouver Surge, Boston Breach

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #OpTic #Texas #Los #Angeles #Thieves #semifinals #CDL #Stage #Minor

OpTic Texas, the Los Angeles Thieves, FaZe Vegas and the Miami Heretics won their quarterfinal matches on Saturday at the Call of Duty League Stage 3 Minor.

The semifinals on Sunday will pit Texas against Los Angeles, then Vegas against Miami with the winners in the grand final later in the day.

All 12 CDL teams are competing in the tournament, which will reward $20,000 and 30 CDL points to the champion. The single-elimination bracket is seeded based on teams’ standing following Major 2. All matches are best-of-five.

On Saturday, OpTic Texas started fast, then took a loss before eliminating Toronto KOI. Texas won 250-219 on Den Hardpoint and 6-3 on Gridlock Search and Destroy. Toronto stayed alive with a 5-1 victory on Scar Overload before OpTic secured the match with a 250-81 triumph on Scar Hardpoint.

The Los Angeles Thieves swept G2 Minnesota 3-0, winning 250-229 on Sake Hardpoint, 6-3 on Scar Search and Destroy and 6-0 on Scar Overload.

FaZe Vegas ousted the Riyadh Falcons 3-1, opening with a 250-146 win on Den Hardpoint and 6-2 decision on Fringe Search and Destroy. The Falcons forced a fourth map by taking Scar Overload 5-3, but Vegas emerged with a 250-187 triumph on Sake Hardpoint to finish the match.

The Miami Heretics dropped the opener to the Paris Gentle Mates, 250-236 on Sake Hardpoint. Then it was all Heretics, winning 6-3 on Fringe Search and Destroy, 4-3 on Scar Overload and 250-203 on Colossus Hardpoint.

Call of Duty League’s Stage 3 Minor prize pool

1. $20,000, 30 CDL points

2. no money, 20 CDL points

3-4. no money, 10 CDL points

5-8. no money, no CDL points — Toronto KOI, G2 Minnesota, Riyadh Falcons, Paris Gentle Mates

9-12. no money, no CDL points — Carolina Royal Ravens, Cloud9 New York, Vancouver Surge, Boston Breach

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #OpTic #Texas #Los #Angeles #Thieves #semifinals #CDL #Stage #Minor

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ASUS ExpertBook Ultra Sets a New Benchmark for AI Business Laptops<div> <p>Business laptops are a niche that suits only a few, but if there were one laptop you could do every single job with, it’s the <a href="https://www.asus.com/in/laptops/for-work/expertbook/asus-expertbook-ultra/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">ExpertBook Ultra</a>. This laptop debuts Intel’s Panther Lake processors in India, and they pack serious performance not only in the CPU but also in the graphics department, with the Taiwanese laptop maker claiming GPU performance similar to the RTX 4050 on the ExpertBook Ultra, which weighs less than 1kg. Here’s everything you need to know about it.</p> <h2 class="kt-adv-heading349854_886abf-a7 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading" data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading349854_886abf-a7">Flagship All Around</h2> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img class="wp-image-349873 br-lazy" src="https://fossbytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ExpertBook-Ultra2-1024x576.jpeg" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" alt="Asus ExpertBook back design " data-brsrcset="https://fossbytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ExpertBook-Ultra2-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://fossbytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ExpertBook-Ultra2-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://fossbytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ExpertBook-Ultra2-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://fossbytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ExpertBook-Ultra2-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://fossbytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ExpertBook-Ultra2-150x84.jpeg 150w, https://fossbytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ExpertBook-Ultra2.jpeg 1600w" data-brsizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"/></figure> <p>Asus is pitching the ExpertBook Ultra as its most premium business laptop yet, and it’s easy to see why. It features an ultra-light design starting at just 0.99 kg and is built using magnesium-aluminum alloy. We took the Ultra for a spin at the launch event, and it looked beautiful. The finish shimmers in sunlight, making the whole experience even more premium. </p> <p>Open the lid, and you’re greeted by a beautiful 3K Tandem OLED display that nails the colors and delivers deep blacks. But that’s not actually the highlight. The highlight is the 1400-nit peak brightness in HDR mode, which keeps the display legible even in direct sunlight. The nano coating also keeps the panel smudge-free. </p> <p>Under the hood lie Intel’s latest Core Ultra Series 3 processors, along with an integrated AI engine (NPU) to handle on-device AI workloads. While we are yet to test the performance of the ExpertBook Ultra, Asus’s demos have set expectations very high, as their benchmarks show the laptop topping the charts among other laptops. The processor can be coupled with up to 64GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 2TB of M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 5.0 SSD. </p> <p>Graphics are handled by the Intel Arc B390, which Asus says offers performance comparable to the RTX 4050. The company also ran a series of benchmarks comparing the two in a variety of games. The ExpertBook Ultra is run by a 70WHrs battery with a claimed all-day battery life of up to 26 hours. </p> <h2 class="kt-adv-heading349854_6ab871-52 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading" data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading349854_6ab871-52">ExpertBook P Series Gets an Upgrade</h2> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img class="wp-image-349874 br-lazy" src="https://fossbytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Expertbook-P5-1024x576.jpeg" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" alt="ExpertBook P5 review" data-brsrcset="https://fossbytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Expertbook-P5-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://fossbytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Expertbook-P5-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://fossbytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Expertbook-P5-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://fossbytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Expertbook-P5-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://fossbytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Expertbook-P5-150x84.jpeg 150w, https://fossbytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Expertbook-P5.jpeg 1600w" data-brsizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"/></figure> <p>Alongside the Ultra, ASUS has expanded its ExpertBook P series with new models like the <a href="https://fossbytes.com/asus-expertbook-p3-review-a-dependable-workhorse-laptop/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">P3</a> and <a href="https://www.asus.com/in/laptops/for-work/expertbook/asus-expertbook-p5-g2-14-intel/">P5</a>, targeting a wider range of business users.</p> <p>These laptops will deliver scalable performance and AI capabilities for professionals and small- to medium-sized businesses. ASUS says the goal is to provide flexibility across configurations while maintaining strong performance and reliability.</p> <h2 class="kt-adv-heading349854_d4ab69-34 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading" data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading349854_d4ab69-34">Pricing & Availability</h2> <p>The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra is now available for pre-order on Flipkart, starting at ₹2,39,990. Pre-order offers include extended warranty, accidental damage protection, bank discounts, and bundled subscriptions. Meanwhile, the ExpertBook P3 starts at ₹94,990, while the P5 is expected to launch soon with a starting price of ₹2,14,990</p> </div>#ASUS #ExpertBook #Ultra #Sets #Benchmark #Business #LaptopsAsus

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There’s No Meating In The Middle, Here, Part 3

After playing in just eight games during the 2024 season, as Diggs suffered a torn ACL in Week 8 while playing for the Houston Texans, he signed a three-year deal with the New England Patriots in May of 2025. Diggs appeared in all 17 regular-season games for New England, catching 85 passes for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns in Foxborough. Diggs led the Patriots in targets with 102 — he was the only New England receiver with more than 90 targets — and also led the team in both receptions and receiving yardage.

How he was used in New England could be a window into his usage in Washington. According to charting data from Pro Football Focus, Kayshon Boutte saw the most downfield targets on the Patriots a year ago (21) followed by Mack Hollins with 16. (Pro Football Focus defines these targets as coming 20 yards or more downfield).

Where Diggs led the way was in the short and intermediate areas of the field, often on crossing routes. Again, turning to charting data from Pro Football Focus, Diggs led the Patriots with 77 targets in the short area of the field, defined as throws between the line of scrimmage and nine yards downfield. Hollins was second on the Patriots, with only 30 such targets.

Turning now to the Commanders, last year Deebo Samuel led the team in those targets with 26. But with Samuel now in San Francisco, Diggs will be tasked with working that area of the field, allowing Terry McLaurin to continue stretching defenses in the vertical passing game. That is where McLaurin is at his best, and if you look at his 2024 numbers (when playing with a healthy Jayden Daniels) McLaurin saw a staggering 32 deep targets that season, the most on the Commanders by far.

For context, Noah Brown and Dyami Brown tied for second with nine each.

Another factor to consider is this: Washington’s new offensive coordinator. David Blough steps into the role, replacing Kliff Kingsbury. The expectation is that Blough will lean into the under-center, play-action passing game, a schematic tweak that will create opportunities for Diggs on those crossing routes underneath.

McLaurin will be Washington’s WR1, with Diggs slotting nicely into that WR2 role. He’ll see volume in this system — meaning he offers a nice boost in PPR formats — and while McLaurin could siphon the bulk of touchdowns (remember Diggs had only four a season ago) and Daniels could vulture some as well with his legs, there will be production to be gained by drafting Diggs in the later rounds as a WR3 with WR2 upside.

#Stefon #Diggs #fantasy #football #outlook #Commanders #signing #means">Stefon Diggs fantasy football outlook: What Commanders signing means for 2026  Stefon Diggs finally has a home for the 2026 NFL season.After putting up solid numbers for the New England Patriots last year — more on that in a moment — Diggs has signed with the Washington Commanders for the 2026 campaign. According to multiple sources, the veteran WR inked a one-year deal with the Commanders worth up to  million. It is something of a homecoming for Diggs, who played his high school football at Good Counsel in Olney and played his college football at Maryland.With many readers entering fantasy draft season, the question is simple: What are the fantasy implications of Diggs signing with the Commanders?After playing in just eight games during the 2024 season, as Diggs suffered a torn ACL in Week 8 while playing for the Houston Texans, he signed a three-year deal with the New England Patriots in May of 2025. Diggs appeared in all 17 regular-season games for New England, catching 85 passes for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns in Foxborough. Diggs led the Patriots in targets with 102 — he was the only New England receiver with more than 90 targets — and also led the team in both receptions and receiving yardage.How he was used in New England could be a window into his usage in Washington. According to charting data from Pro Football Focus, Kayshon Boutte saw the most downfield targets on the Patriots a year ago (21) followed by Mack Hollins with 16. (Pro Football Focus defines these targets as coming 20 yards or more downfield).Where Diggs led the way was in the short and intermediate areas of the field, often on crossing routes. Again, turning to charting data from Pro Football Focus, Diggs led the Patriots with 77 targets in the short area of the field, defined as throws between the line of scrimmage and nine yards downfield. Hollins was second on the Patriots, with only 30 such targets.Turning now to the Commanders, last year Deebo Samuel led the team in those targets with 26. But with Samuel now in San Francisco, Diggs will be tasked with working that area of the field, allowing Terry McLaurin to continue stretching defenses in the vertical passing game. That is where McLaurin is at his best, and if you look at his 2024 numbers (when playing with a healthy Jayden Daniels) McLaurin saw a staggering 32 deep targets that season, the most on the Commanders by far.For context, Noah Brown and Dyami Brown tied for second with nine each.Another factor to consider is this: Washington’s new offensive coordinator. David Blough steps into the role, replacing Kliff Kingsbury. The expectation is that Blough will lean into the under-center, play-action passing game, a schematic tweak that will create opportunities for Diggs on those crossing routes underneath.McLaurin will be Washington’s WR1, with Diggs slotting nicely into that WR2 role. He’ll see volume in this system — meaning he offers a nice boost in PPR formats — and while McLaurin could siphon the bulk of touchdowns (remember Diggs had only four a season ago) and Daniels could vulture some as well with his legs, there will be production to be gained by drafting Diggs in the later rounds as a WR3 with WR2 upside.  #Stefon #Diggs #fantasy #football #outlook #Commanders #signing #means

85 passes for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns in Foxborough. Diggs led the Patriots in targets with 102 — he was the only New England receiver with more than 90 targets — and also led the team in both receptions and receiving yardage.

How he was used in New England could be a window into his usage in Washington. According to charting data from Pro Football Focus, Kayshon Boutte saw the most downfield targets on the Patriots a year ago (21) followed by Mack Hollins with 16. (Pro Football Focus defines these targets as coming 20 yards or more downfield).

Where Diggs led the way was in the short and intermediate areas of the field, often on crossing routes. Again, turning to charting data from Pro Football Focus, Diggs led the Patriots with 77 targets in the short area of the field, defined as throws between the line of scrimmage and nine yards downfield. Hollins was second on the Patriots, with only 30 such targets.

Turning now to the Commanders, last year Deebo Samuel led the team in those targets with 26. But with Samuel now in San Francisco, Diggs will be tasked with working that area of the field, allowing Terry McLaurin to continue stretching defenses in the vertical passing game. That is where McLaurin is at his best, and if you look at his 2024 numbers (when playing with a healthy Jayden Daniels) McLaurin saw a staggering 32 deep targets that season, the most on the Commanders by far.

For context, Noah Brown and Dyami Brown tied for second with nine each.

Another factor to consider is this: Washington’s new offensive coordinator. David Blough steps into the role, replacing Kliff Kingsbury. The expectation is that Blough will lean into the under-center, play-action passing game, a schematic tweak that will create opportunities for Diggs on those crossing routes underneath.

McLaurin will be Washington’s WR1, with Diggs slotting nicely into that WR2 role. He’ll see volume in this system — meaning he offers a nice boost in PPR formats — and while McLaurin could siphon the bulk of touchdowns (remember Diggs had only four a season ago) and Daniels could vulture some as well with his legs, there will be production to be gained by drafting Diggs in the later rounds as a WR3 with WR2 upside.

#Stefon #Diggs #fantasy #football #outlook #Commanders #signing #means">Stefon Diggs fantasy football outlook: What Commanders signing means for 2026

Stefon Diggs finally has a home for the 2026 NFL season.

After putting up solid numbers for the New England Patriots last year — more on that in a moment — Diggs has signed with the Washington Commanders for the 2026 campaign. According to multiple sources, the veteran WR inked a one-year deal with the Commanders worth up to $12 million. It is something of a homecoming for Diggs, who played his high school football at Good Counsel in Olney and played his college football at Maryland.

With many readers entering fantasy draft season, the question is simple: What are the fantasy implications of Diggs signing with the Commanders?

After playing in just eight games during the 2024 season, as Diggs suffered a torn ACL in Week 8 while playing for the Houston Texans, he signed a three-year deal with the New England Patriots in May of 2025. Diggs appeared in all 17 regular-season games for New England, catching 85 passes for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns in Foxborough. Diggs led the Patriots in targets with 102 — he was the only New England receiver with more than 90 targets — and also led the team in both receptions and receiving yardage.

How he was used in New England could be a window into his usage in Washington. According to charting data from Pro Football Focus, Kayshon Boutte saw the most downfield targets on the Patriots a year ago (21) followed by Mack Hollins with 16. (Pro Football Focus defines these targets as coming 20 yards or more downfield).

Where Diggs led the way was in the short and intermediate areas of the field, often on crossing routes. Again, turning to charting data from Pro Football Focus, Diggs led the Patriots with 77 targets in the short area of the field, defined as throws between the line of scrimmage and nine yards downfield. Hollins was second on the Patriots, with only 30 such targets.

Turning now to the Commanders, last year Deebo Samuel led the team in those targets with 26. But with Samuel now in San Francisco, Diggs will be tasked with working that area of the field, allowing Terry McLaurin to continue stretching defenses in the vertical passing game. That is where McLaurin is at his best, and if you look at his 2024 numbers (when playing with a healthy Jayden Daniels) McLaurin saw a staggering 32 deep targets that season, the most on the Commanders by far.

For context, Noah Brown and Dyami Brown tied for second with nine each.

Another factor to consider is this: Washington’s new offensive coordinator. David Blough steps into the role, replacing Kliff Kingsbury. The expectation is that Blough will lean into the under-center, play-action passing game, a schematic tweak that will create opportunities for Diggs on those crossing routes underneath.

McLaurin will be Washington’s WR1, with Diggs slotting nicely into that WR2 role. He’ll see volume in this system — meaning he offers a nice boost in PPR formats — and while McLaurin could siphon the bulk of touchdowns (remember Diggs had only four a season ago) and Daniels could vulture some as well with his legs, there will be production to be gained by drafting Diggs in the later rounds as a WR3 with WR2 upside.

#Stefon #Diggs #fantasy #football #outlook #Commanders #signing #means

Two former Iranian women footballers said Thursday they were “proud” to have been granted Australian citizenship after being branded traitors at home for refusing to sing the national anthem before a game.

Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were members of a group of seven from Iran’s delegation who asked for Australia’s protection following the high-profile protest during the women’s Asian Cup in March.

With their demands for protection an embarrassment for Iran’s leaders but lauded by US President Donald Trump, five later changed their minds and returned home.

Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh stayed, however, and were granted Australian citizenship at a ceremony on Wednesday overseen by interior minister Tony Burke.

“Yesterday was a truly special and unforgettable day for me. I feel proud and deeply grateful to become an Australian citizen,” Ramezanisadeh said in a statement.

“After everything we’ve been through and all the challenges we faced, this moment means more than words can express,” Pasandideh added.

A week after seeking asylum, the pair was pictured smiling and training with Australian club Brisbane Roar, which on Wednesday congratulated the pair.

“What they have been through since February is more than most people deal with in a lifetime,” a spokesman for the club said.

“To see them arrive at this point is something everyone here at Brisbane Roar is glad to have had a small part in,” they added.

“Queensland is their home now. If they ever want to pull on a training top and come back out with us, the door will always stay open.”

ALSO READ: Iran women football players thank Australian government for protection

The plight of the rest of the team remains unclear since their return to Iran.

AFP reporters saw them cross into their homeland from Turkey on a bus wearing the national team tracksuits and with their hair covered.

Soon after, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on X that the players and their support team were “children of the homeland and the people of Iran embrace them”.

By returning, they had “disappointed the enemies (of Iran) and did not surrender to deception and intimidation by anti-Iran elements”, he added.

Published on Aug 06, 2026

#Iranian #women #footballers #granted #Australian #citizenship">Former Iranian women footballers granted Australian citizenship  Two former Iranian women footballers said Thursday they were “proud” to have been granted Australian citizenship after being branded traitors at home for refusing to sing the national anthem before a game.Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were members of a group of seven from Iran’s delegation who asked for Australia’s protection following the high-profile protest during the women’s Asian Cup in March.With their demands for protection an embarrassment for Iran’s leaders but lauded by US President Donald Trump, five later changed their minds and returned home.Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh stayed, however, and were granted Australian citizenship at a ceremony on Wednesday overseen by interior minister Tony Burke.“Yesterday was a truly special and unforgettable day for me. I feel proud and deeply grateful to become an Australian citizen,” Ramezanisadeh said in a statement.“After everything we’ve been through and all the challenges we faced, this moment means more than words can express,” Pasandideh added.A week after seeking asylum, the pair was pictured smiling and training with Australian club Brisbane Roar, which on Wednesday congratulated the pair.“What they have been through since February is more than most people deal with in a lifetime,” a spokesman for the club said.“To see them arrive at this point is something everyone here at Brisbane Roar is glad to have had a small part in,” they added.“Queensland is their home now. If they ever want to pull on a training top and come back out with us, the door will always stay open.”ALSO READ: Iran women football players thank Australian government for protectionThe plight of the rest of the team remains unclear since their return to Iran.AFP reporters saw them cross into their homeland from Turkey on a bus wearing the national team tracksuits and with their hair covered.Soon after, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on        X that the players and their support team were “children of the homeland and the people of Iran embrace them”.By returning, they had “disappointed the enemies (of Iran) and did not surrender to deception and intimidation by anti-Iran elements”, he added.Published on Aug 06, 2026  #Iranian #women #footballers #granted #Australian #citizenship

Iran women football players thank Australian government for protection

The plight of the rest of the team remains unclear since their return to Iran.

AFP reporters saw them cross into their homeland from Turkey on a bus wearing the national team tracksuits and with their hair covered.

Soon after, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on X that the players and their support team were “children of the homeland and the people of Iran embrace them”.

By returning, they had “disappointed the enemies (of Iran) and did not surrender to deception and intimidation by anti-Iran elements”, he added.

Published on Aug 06, 2026

#Iranian #women #footballers #granted #Australian #citizenship">Former Iranian women footballers granted Australian citizenship

Two former Iranian women footballers said Thursday they were “proud” to have been granted Australian citizenship after being branded traitors at home for refusing to sing the national anthem before a game.

Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were members of a group of seven from Iran’s delegation who asked for Australia’s protection following the high-profile protest during the women’s Asian Cup in March.

With their demands for protection an embarrassment for Iran’s leaders but lauded by US President Donald Trump, five later changed their minds and returned home.

Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh stayed, however, and were granted Australian citizenship at a ceremony on Wednesday overseen by interior minister Tony Burke.

“Yesterday was a truly special and unforgettable day for me. I feel proud and deeply grateful to become an Australian citizen,” Ramezanisadeh said in a statement.

“After everything we’ve been through and all the challenges we faced, this moment means more than words can express,” Pasandideh added.

A week after seeking asylum, the pair was pictured smiling and training with Australian club Brisbane Roar, which on Wednesday congratulated the pair.

“What they have been through since February is more than most people deal with in a lifetime,” a spokesman for the club said.

“To see them arrive at this point is something everyone here at Brisbane Roar is glad to have had a small part in,” they added.

“Queensland is their home now. If they ever want to pull on a training top and come back out with us, the door will always stay open.”

ALSO READ: Iran women football players thank Australian government for protection

The plight of the rest of the team remains unclear since their return to Iran.

AFP reporters saw them cross into their homeland from Turkey on a bus wearing the national team tracksuits and with their hair covered.

Soon after, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on X that the players and their support team were “children of the homeland and the people of Iran embrace them”.

By returning, they had “disappointed the enemies (of Iran) and did not surrender to deception and intimidation by anti-Iran elements”, he added.

Published on Aug 06, 2026

#Iranian #women #footballers #granted #Australian #citizenship

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