This archive report was first published on 10 October 2019.
On October 10, 2019, a historic moment unfolded in Tehran's Azadi Stadium as thousands of Iranian women attended a football match without restriction, marking the first time in nearly four decades that women were allowed to freely enter a stadium in Iran.
The event was a direct result of FIFA's order to Iran to allow women access to stadiums without restriction and in numbers determined by demand for tickets, following 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.
Elated female fans waved flags, snapped selfies, and cheered joyfully as the name of each Iranian player was announced over the loudspeakers. Some donned sporty hats over their headscarves, while others painted their faces with the colours of the flag.
Despite the excitement, many women who were unable to get tickets in time for the game were left disappointed, including 18-year-old student Guelareh, who had been dreaming of attending a stadium for 14 years.
Iran's 2022 World Cup qualifier against Cambodia ended in a blowout, with Iran leading 9-0 by the middle of the second half. The match was attended by around 4,500 women, who were among the 10,000 spectators in total.
A FIFA delegation attended the match to ensure Iran honoured its pledge to allow women in. The event was widely celebrated, with pro-reform newspaper Sazandegui publishing a photograph of two female football supporters, coupled with the headline: "The women of freedom."
