This archive report was first published on 10 October 2019.
On October 10, 2019, thousands of Iranian women made history by attending a football match freely for the first time in decades. The event came after FIFA threatened to suspend Iran over its controversial stadium restrictions.
Elated female fans wore the national green, white, and red flag around their shoulders and over their hair as they streamed into a tiny section of Tehran's 100,000-capacity Azadi Stadium for Iran's 2022 World Cup qualifier against Cambodia.
The match was a significant milestone for Iranian women, who had been barred from entering football and other sports stadiums for nearly 40 years. Clerics had argued that women must be shielded from the masculine atmosphere and sight of semi-clad men.
However, the death of Sahar Khodayari, a 29-year-old woman who set herself ablaze outside a court in fear of being jailed for trying to attend a match, sparked an outcry. Many called for Iran to be banned and matches boycotted.
Following FIFA's order to allow women access to stadiums without restriction, around 4,500 women managed to get their hands on tickets for the match. Even before the starting whistle blew, female fans cheered joyfully as the name of each Iranian player was announced over the loudspeakers.
While it was not the first time women had attended football matches in Iran, it was the first time they had been allowed to buy tickets. On previous occasions, attendees had been handpicked by the authorities.
