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Updated Oct. 10, 2024 at 12:00 a.m.
Some 3,500 women were the first since the Islamic Revolution to be allowed to attend a football match in Iran for a World Cup qualifier in Tehran on this day in 2019.
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What was the first sporting match attended by women in post-Revolution Iran?
In October 2019, Iran allowed 3,500 women to attend a World Cup qualifying football match in Tehran's Azadi Stadium. The 3,500 women who were allowed to attend the match were selected through a lottery system. This approach aimed to ensure fairness in the distribution of tickets.
Why had women been banned from attending men's football matches in Iran?
For nearly four decades, Iran had a strict ban on women attending men's football matches in stadiums. The ban was enforced by conservative clerics and officials who argued that allowing women in stadiums would lead to the mixing of genders and create an inappropriate atmosphere.
Why were Iranian women allowed to attend a soccer match in 2019?
The change in policy allowing women to attend the football match was partly the result of international pressure and activism within Iran. There were instances of women openly defying the ban and attempting to attend matches, and these actions garnered attention and support both nationally and internationally.