ABC SPORT Daily

The Iran football story keeps evolving. On Wednesday morning, Tony Burke announced two more members of the group were granted asylum. By the afternoon, one of those had opted to return to Iran after all. It underlines the fraught nature of the story, as details emerge around retribution concerns for those involved and we learn specifics of how authorities helped the six women who will remain in Australia. Featured: Amanda Shalala, senior reporter, ABC Sport.To catch up on everything that’s making sports headlines recently, listen to more episodes of ABC Sport Daily,’ hosted by Patrick Stack on ABC listen or wherever you get your podcasts, and get in touch with them on social media via @abc_sport. In the episodes we will cover big sporting personalities and all sports, including cricket, soccer, F1, NBA, AFL, AFLW to NRLW & NRL news, to covering competitions like the Olympics, the World Cup, The Ashes, Grand Prix and Grand Finals and more. Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

The ex-Origin winger has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars and drawn heavy criticism from the game where he made his name, but Zac Lomax clearly believes in his switch to rugby. The new Western Force recruit speaks to us about the move and doubled down on his belief that rugby's global appeal was the central plank of his decision to join the fifteen-man code. Featured: Zac Lomax, Western Force and Rugby Australia recruit. To catch up on everything that’s making sports headlines recently, listen to more episodes of ABC Sport Daily,’ hosted by Patrick Stack on ABC listen or wherever you get your podcasts, and get in touch with them on social media via @abc_sport. In the episodes we will cover big sporting personalities and all sports, including cricket, soccer, F1, NBA, AFL, AFLW to NRLW & NRL news, to covering competitions like the Olympics, the World Cup, The Ashes, Grand Prix and Grand Finals and more. To catch up on everything that’s making sports headlines recently, listen to more episodes of ABC Sport Daily,’ hosted by Patrick Stack on ABC listen or wherever you get your podcasts, and get in touch with them on social media via @abc_sport. In the episodes we will cover big sporting personalities and all sports, including cricket, soccer, F1, NBA, AFL, AFLW to NRLW & NRL news, to covering competitions like the Olympics, the World Cup, The Ashes, Grand Prix and Grand Finals and more. Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

Iran's AFC Asian Cup is over, but the on field part of their story feels insignificant in the context of the players' broader situation. Confusion and fear surround the players who have been described as "wartime traitors" by powerful figures in the Middle East nation. Chaotic scenes outside their last game have underlined the concerns. Who is responsible for their safety and what fate awaits them once they leave Australia? We unpack a story that is towering over the soccer tournament. Featured: Amanda Shalala, senior reporter, ABC Sport.To catch up on everything that’s making sports headlines recently, listen to more episodes of ABC Sport Daily,’ hosted by Patrick Stack on ABC listen or wherever you get your podcasts, and get in touch with them on social media via @abc_sport. In the episodes we will cover big sporting personalities and all sports, including cricket, soccer, F1, NBA, AFL, AFLW to NRLW & NRL news, to covering competitions like the Olympics, the World Cup, The Ashes, Grand Prix and Grand Finals and more. Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

Danielle Scott is an Olympic silver medallist. At her fourth Winter Games the aerial skier finally won that elusive Olympic medal. The weight of expectation was so much that she told her family and friends to stay home. We talk to her about that decision, what the reunion was like and the secret behind Australia's most successful Winter Olympic team in history. Featured: Danielle Scott, Olympic silver medallist. Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

The Formula 1 season gets underway in Melbourne this weekend and with a huge raft of changes to the cars it's safe to say we can expect the unexpected. How quickly each team adapts to the sport's new era will shape the 2026 season. Importantly, can Oscar Piastri become the first Australian driver to win their home Grand Prix in 46 years? Plus who to look out for as the Paralympic Winter Games get underway in Milano-Cortina.Featured: Mick Doyle, ABC SPORT. Elizabeth Wright, ABC SPORT.Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

Opening Round of the AFL gets underway on Thursday night and fans of every club are all still hopeful that their team could make a run at the finals in season 2026. Will St Kilda’s expensive off-season pay dividends? Which of the players who moved clubs will have the biggest impact and which set of fans might want to temper their expectations? We preview the 2026 AFL Season. Featured: Corbin Middlemas, ABC SPORT. Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

Dennis Cometti has been the soundtrack to so many of Australia’s great sporting moments, and today the record stopped. From Australian Rules to Olympic triumphs to Test match cricket, Dennis was as intelligent as he was entertaining. We remember the giant of the industry that was Dennis Cometti, and the legacy he will leave. Featured: Clint Wheeldon, ABC SPORT. Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

The Iranian women's football team lost 3-0 on Monday night in the Women’s Asian Cup, but for many Iranians the fact they made it onto the park was a win in itself. The conflict in the Middle East has caused all kinds of chaos across the globe, and these women are tasked with not only trying to win games of football, but with representing a nation currently in turmoil on the international stage. Ahead of their match-up against the Matildas, many at the Asian Cup are wrapping their arms around this group. Featured: Emma Kemp, senior sports writer, Nine Newspapers. Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

Some things are just meant to be, like Sam Kerr and scoring goals in Perth. The Matildas got their Women’s Asian Cup campaign underway with a 1-0 win over the Philippines. A victory to get things started in coach Joe Montemurro’s first tournament in charge is a box ticked, but the national side struggled at times to create and then capitalise on their opportunities. How will the Tillies reflect on this match and should fans be concerned about a slow start?Featured: Alicia Ferguson, former Matilda. Clare Wheeler, Matildas’ midfielder.  Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

His teammates love him, but opposition players? Not so much. Toby Greene is the AFL's anti-hero and that's just the way he likes it. But that doesn't mean being the bad guy doesn't come at a cost. In this interview, Greene explains the toll it takes on his family, talks leadership, and why he wasn't scared by Adam Kingsley's viral spray in a new documentary series. Featured: Toby Greene, GWS Giants captain.Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

The NRL season is kicking off in Vegas this weekend and there are plenty of threads to pull ahead of the 2026 season getting underway. Can the Broncos find and harness the magic of last season or will the premiership go to their heads? Will back-to-back Grand Final losses make or break the Storm and do the Panthers rise again? Plus there’s always a dark horse so who might it be in season 2026?Featured: Nick Campton, ABC SPORT. Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

Kyah Simon has won Australia the Asian Cup. She was the first Indigenous Aussie woman to score at a World Cup. The first to 100 caps. And yet she's still finding herself on the receiving end of racism. Simon is fighting back and joins us to explain how, before pulling apart some huge storylines ahead of the Asian Cup. Featured: Kyah Simon, Matildas legend.Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

As Tennis Australia, Craig Tiley has presided over immense moments of success and immense moments of controversy. Having transformed the Australian Open and TA into world leaders, he's heading for the USA. He tells us why and talks regrets, stress and more. Featured: Craig Tiley, CEO, Tennis Australia.Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

All summer, it felt as though Cricket Australia was warming up fans to the idea of selling part of the BBL. This hypothetical sale might deliver rivers of gold, but other nations are getting a sense of the immediate realities. Teams have been re-named to reflect the Indian parent side, Pakistani players have been blacklisted, these are just some examples that are giving key stakeholders pause. Featured: Peter Lalor, cricket writer and podcaster, Cricket Et Al. Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

The Olympic Winter Games are officially closed and the baton has been passed to France, but before we look forward to that we reflect on what was a record-breaking six-medal haul from Australia. Plus as is often the way at these events, there were stories of resilience, heartbreak and a little bit of humour; we look back at some of our favourites.Featured: Simon Smale, ABC SPORT.Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

Alysa Liu retired from figure skating four years ago, aged 16, saying she'd lost herself in competition. Fast-forward to the 2026 Olympic Winter Games and she's back with a gold medal around her neck but perhaps more importantly, she did it her way. Team USA had high expectations for their figure skating team in Milan and not everyone could live up to them, so how might the joy of Liu's gold change the way the sport deals with its athletes?Featured: Caroline Price, journalist, Forbes. Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

Danielle Scott has won World Cups and medalled at World Championships but was missing one thing - an Olympic medal. In her fourth Winter Games she finally stood on an Olympic podium, adding a sixth medal to an already record-breaking Australian tally. We speak to her former teammate and coach about how hard Danielle has worked and what this might mean for her. Plus there's a new sport at these Games and it's chaotic. Featured: David Morris, Olympic silver medallist. Simon Smale, ABC SPORT. Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

Did you see the cheating scandal in the curling and think to yourself 'I should watch that' but then have no idea what's happening on the ice? You're not alone, so ahead of the men's and women's finals we have an explainer. Plus, Mela Stalker is an Olympic finalist and in her debut Winter Games has been enjoying everything the experience has to offer, including the tiramisu in the athletes village.Featured: Andrew Swain, Australian curler. Mela Stalker, Olympic finalist. Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

American slalom skier Mikaela Shiffrin is one of the sport's best, but when it comes to performing at the Olympic Games in recent times she's succumbed to the pressure. With one event to go in her program, can she overcome her nerves? Plus a missed opportunity for Australia to increase its record medal tally and we speak to a very proud father. Featured: Matt Futterman, senior sports writer, The Athletic. Erin Marsicovetere, ABC SPORT. Michael Fordham, father of Olympian Rosie Fordham.Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

The Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics have been Australia's most successful ever with five medals so far and three won by the moguls team. Cooper Woods won the first of those medals and he talks to us about what makes that group so special. Plus, we re-live other medal moments like Jakara Anthony's redemption and Scotty James' heartbreaking, history making silver in the half-pipe. Featured: Cooper Woods, Olympic gold medallist. Simon Smale, ABC SPORT. Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter