Reports: Iran allows women to attend soccer game in Tehran

In a rare move, authorities in Iran have allowed women to attend a soccer game at the Tehran Azadi stadium in the Iranian capital, local media reports.

Videos posted on social media show women inside the stadium as the national league game between Esteghlal FC, the second most popular team in Iran, and Mes-e Kerman kicks off.

The footage shows women waving blue team flags of Esteghlal and cheering from their seats, in a special area designated for women at the 100,000-seat stadium.

روز پنجشنبه، ۳ شهریور، پس از کشمکش‌های فراوان و با فشار فدراسیون جهانی فوتبال، پانصد #تماشاچی_زن توانستند برای تماشای مسابقه فوتبال استقلال و مس کرمان، بلیط تهیه کنند. این زنان در دقایق پیش از شروع مسابقه شعارهای «#دختر_آبی» و «وریای باغیرت، حرف تو حرف ملت» را سر دادند. pic.twitter.com/6X3RvVUGnV

— independentpersian (@indypersian) August 25, 2022

According to the semi-official ISNA news agency, 500 tickets were dedicated exclusively for women, though it isn’t immediately clear how many attended.

A news website, Asriran, says that four hours ahead of the match, tickets assigned for women sold for about $70 on the black market, compared to their official price of under $2.