Pictures: Iran women attend Fifa football game for first time in decades

Thousands of Iranian women finally got a chance to witness a soccer game in their country

Last updated:
Balaram Menon, Senior Web Editor
2 MIN READ
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Iranian women cheer as they arrive to the Azadi Stadium to watch the 2022 World Cup qualifier soccer match between Iran and Cambodia, in Tehran, on October 10, 2019. Iranian women were freely allowed into the stadium for the first time in decades. They had been banned since 1981.
AP
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Iranian women cheer ahead of the World Cup 2022 Group C qualification football match between Iran and Cambodia at the Azadi stadium in the capital Tehran. They had to sit well apart from the men, and the stadium was practically empty, but thousands of Iranian women in merry jester hats and face paint blew horns and cheered at the first FIFA soccer match they were allowed to freely attend in decades.
AFP
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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 Azadi Stadium.
REUTERS
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More than 3,500 Iranian women attended the match where Iran thrashed Cambodia 14-0.
AP
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Iran's midfielder Ahmad Noorollahi celebrates (2nd-left) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal during the World Cup 2022 Group C qualification football match between Iran and Cambodia at the Azadi stadium in the capital Tehran.
AFP
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Some donned sporty hats over their headscarves, while others painted their faces with the colours of the flag.
REUTERS
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An Iranian woman has her national flag painted on her face as she arrives at the Azadi stadium in the capital Tehran ahead of the World Cup 2022 Group C qualification football match between Iran and Cambodia.
AFP
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Iran's forward Sardar Azmoun (L) controls the ball during the World Cup 2022 Group C qualification football match between Iran and Cambodia at the Azadi stadium in the capital Tehran.
AFP
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Iranian women cheer during the World Cup 2022 Group C qualification football match between Iran and Cambodia at the Azadi stadium in the capital Tehran.
AFP
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Iranian women cheer during the World Cup 2022 Group C qualification football match between Iran and Cambodia at the Azadi stadium in the capital Tehran.
AFP
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Iranian players greet their fans after the World Cup 2022 Group C qualification football match between Iran and Cambodia at the Azadi stadium in the capital Tehran on October 10, 2019.
AFP
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Iranian women cheer during the World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C qualification football match between Iran and Cambodia at the Azadi stadium in the capital Tehran on October 10, 2019.
AFP
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Iranian women cheer during an Iran and Cambodia 2022 World Cup qualifier soccer match at the Azadi (Freedom) Stadium, in Tehran.
AP
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Female police officers work at the Azadi (Freedom) Stadium during a soccer match between Iran and Cambodia in the 2022 World Cup qualifier in Tehran.
AP

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