A women surfing on mobile at Azadi Stadium during the live broadcast of the 2018 FIFA World Cup match between IRAN and Portugal in Tehran, Iran on June 25, 2018. Iranian woman was allowed to enter at Tehran stadium to watch a live broadcast of two matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup between Iran v Spain and Portugal.

After 40 years!

2018

Violation of women’s rights in social, political, and sport domains is the thing that mostly hurts Iranian people. In Iran, women are still not allowed to enter the football stadiums and in FIFA World Cup 2018 after 40 years, they could enter the Azadi Stadium of Tehran to watch the match live stream. On March 1st, during the meeting between Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, and Hassan Rouhani, the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, lifting bans on women in stadiums was discussed resulting in granting selective permissions to women allowing them to enter stadiums after 40 years. Amid Russia World Cup, doors of Azadi Stadium were opened for families to enjoy a screening of Iran National Team’s matches. However, the problem still exits due to governmental and religious policies.

This story is a part of a long-term project reflecting on contemporary issues of Iran within cultural, political, and religious scopes and their impacts on the lives of football and non-football fans.

This Story was awarded Grand Prix and 1 st place of the Paris Sport Photo Festival in 2019.

Iranian People cheers after the Iranian National Football Team defeated Morocco team during The FIFA World Cup 2018 at Vanak square on March 25, 2018, in Tehran, Iran.

A huge billboard in Iran's capital Tehran in support of the national team at the World Cup is criticized as it does not include women.
This billboard has changed shortly during the 2018 FIFA World Cup on Jun 14, 2018, at Valiasr square in Tehran, Iran.

An Iranian football fan cheers at Azadi Stadium during the live broadcast of the 2018 FIFA World Cup match between IRAN and Portugal in Tehran, Iran on June 25, 2018. Iranian woman were allowed to enter at Tehran stadium to watch a live broadcast of two matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup between Iran v Spain and Portugal.

Iranian football fans Cheers at Azadi Stadium during the live broadcast of the 2018 FIFA World Cup match between IRAN and Portugal in Tehran, Iran on June 25, 2018. Iranian woman were allowed to enter at Tehran stadium to watch a live broadcast of two matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup between Iran v Spain and Portugal.

Iranian football fans are seen at Azadi Stadium during the live broadcast of the 2018 FIFA World Cup match between IRAN and Portugal in Tehran, Iran on June 25, 2018. Iranian woman were allowed to enter at Tehran stadium to watch a live broadcast of two matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup between Iran v Spain and Portugal.

One of the Iranian female fans holding the flag of Iran in Azadi Stadium of Tehran on June 25, 2018, is taking a photo as a memento during the FIFA World Cup 2018 match between Iran and Portugal.
In Iran, women are still not allowed to enter the football stadiums and in FIFA World Cup 2018 after 40 years, they could enter the Azadi Stadium of Tehran to watch the match live stream.

Two Iranian football fans smoke at Azadi Stadium during the live broadcast of the 2018 FIFA World Cup match between IRAN and Portugal in Tehran, Iran on June 25, 2018. Iranian woman were allowed to enter at Tehran stadium to watch a live broadcast of two matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup between Iran v Spain and Portugal.

An Iranian women pray at Azadi Stadium during the live broadcast of the 2018 FIFA World Cup match between IRAN and Portugal in Tehran, Iran on June 25, 2018. Iranian woman were allowed to enter at Tehran stadium to watch a live broadcast of two matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup between Iran v Spain and Portugal.

An Iranian woman is seen with her boy at Azadi Stadium during the live broadcast of the 2018 FIFA World Cup match between IRAN and Portugal in Tehran, Iran on June 25, 2018. Iranian woman were allowed to enter at Tehran stadium to watch a live broadcast of two matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup between Iran v Spain and Portugal.