India, March 9 -- US President Donald Trump on Monday urged Australia to grant asylum to the Iranian women's soccer team, saying sending them back will be a "terrible humanitarian mistake".

Trump said that the Iranian women soccer team would "most likely be killed" if they are forced to go back to Iran. On Monday, the Iranian women's team had refused to sing their national anthem ahead of the Asian Cup opening match in Australia.

The Asian Cup tournament started in Australia as the US and Israel launched air strike on Iran. The Iranian team was eliminated on Sunday after losing 2-0 to the Philippines.

"Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman's Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where ...