Shiva Amini, a former defender for Iran's women's national football team, appeared on Fox News Channel's "The Story" on Wednesday and suggested that players returning to Iran from the AFC Women's Asian Cup faced an uncertain future.

Amini, who was banned from the national team and forced to flee Iran after posting a social media photo of herself playing football without a hijab in July 2022, said she understood the players' situation.[1][2] "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."

The 1996-born Amini was granted political asylum in Switzerland following threats from Iranian authorities.[4] She recounted being unable to see her father for nearly 10 years and missing his funeral, blaming regime restrictions on family visas.

Amini detailed how authorities used her social media post against her to make an example. "They took everything from me. I lost my family, I lost my home, I lost my safety," she said during the interview alongside Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad.

The comments came amid Iran's participation in the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026, hosted from February 27 to March 15 in various venues including Gold Coast Stadium, where Iran faced the Philippines in a Group A match on March 8.[3]

The tournament is the premier women's national team competition in Asia, qualifying the top teams for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Sources

1. The Guardian
   Article title: Iranian footballer forced to flee after sharing photo without hijab
   Publication date: 25 July 2022
   https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/jul/25/iranian-footballer-shiva-amini-forced-to-flee-after-sharing-photo-without-hijab
2. BBC Sport
   Article title: Iran footballer Shiva Amini cuts hair in Mahsa Amini protest
   Publication date: 17 September 2022
   https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62326340
3. The-AFC.com
   Page title: AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™
   Accessed date: 10 October 2024
   https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/womens_asian_cup.html
4. Wikipedia
   Page title: Shiva Amini
   Accessed date: 10 October 2024
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva_Amini