Ex-Iranian women's soccer star empathizes with national team, breaks down sharing story of father's death

Former Iranian professional soccer player Shiva Amini and Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad criticize the Iranian regime for suppressing women’s rights on ‘The Story.’

Shiva Amini, a former Iranian women’s professional soccer player who was banned from the team and later forced to leave the country after she was photographed playing without a hijab around her head, suggested Wednesday that the players coming back to the country faced an uncertain future.

Six Iranian women’s national soccer team players received asylum in Australia after the team was bounced from the Women’s Asian Cup. The Australian government stepped in and worked with some players to attain a humanitarian visa.

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Members of the Iranian women's national soccer team arrive at Terminal 1 of Kuala Lumpur International Airport after attending a Group A match of the AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia, in Sepang, Malaysia, March 11, 2026.  (REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain)

Amini appeared on Fox News Channel’s "The Story" said she understood what the players are going through.

"I can totally understand what those Iranian soccer players are going through because I’ve been in their shoes," she said. "The Iranian regime put you in this situation. You have to say goodbye to everything that you have in Iran … Anything could happen to you when you go to Iran. You can face prison, you can face rape, you can face execution. ... The regime don’t care about who you are."

Amini was granted asylum in Switzerland over threats from the Islamic regime in Iran.

She broke down in tears as she recalled being unable to see her father for nearly 10 years and missing his funeral when he died.

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