Iran 14-0 Cambodia as women return to stadium after 40 years
The international match was an historic one, not because of what was going on on the pitch, but for who was filling up the stands off it.
Not since 1981 had Iranian women been allowed to enter a stadium in their home country, but on Thursday 10 October, that changed.
All Iran's football fans are back
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Long before the Iran and Cambodia men's teams took to the field for their World Cup 2022 qualifier, the stands of Tehran's Azadi Stadium were filling up, or at least one section of it. The area allocated to around 3,000 women (tickets were limited) was full, unlike the rest of the venue, and they were able to celebrate as Iran scored early, then continued to score in what was a one-sided affair that finished 14 (FOURTEEN) - 0.
This game just won’t end. In the first FIFA game that Iran allowed women to attend, their national team put up 14 goals against Cambodia. pic.twitter.com/dmaXuWqIQp
— ليث ابو فاضل (@leithfadel) October 10, 2019
But it was the historic steps being taken by the Iranian authorities, under a lot of international pressure, that had everyone talking.
Iranian women watched a #FIFA soccer match after being freely allowed into a stadium for the first time since 1981.
— Schnück ❁ (@schnucknetwork) October 10, 2019
Iran allocated 4,000 tickets for women for today's #WorldCup2022 World Cup qualifier versus Cambodia pic.twitter.com/wfnn3GiJO1
Pleased to be among #women who are at Azadi Stadium today watching #Iran 🇮🇷 - #Cambodia 🇰🇭 game ⚽️
— Ugochi Daniels (@daniels_ugochi) October 10, 2019
Universal language of #sport brings people together, teaches teamwork and tolerance.
Congrats to Iranian women on this big milestone. pic.twitter.com/TKgH1zVeci
TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian women have just watched a FIFA soccer match kickoff after being freely allowed into a stadium for the first time in decades.
— 247newsaroundtheworld (@247natw) October 10, 2019
Iran faces Cambodia in the 2022 World Cup qualifier being held Thursday at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.
But t… https://t.co/rrTNvE6WrA pic.twitter.com/21lI6zNCeb
#Iran 7-0 up against Cambodia in the world cup qualifier. Reactions online saying it's all thanks to the presence of women! #با_من_به_ورزشگاه_بیا#زنان_ورزشگاه#ورزشگاه_آزادي https://t.co/xFGwntu2BI
— Daniel Amir (@Daniel_Amir1) October 10, 2019
Watching Iran 🇮🇷 vs. Cambodia 🇰🇭 and totally forgot that Keisuke Honda was their manager. Classy move by him taking selfies with the women attending the match today 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/FvqbUhjHDf
— Cameran | کامران (@camtotheyams_) October 10, 2019
#Iran players celebrated their first goal against #Cambodia in front of female fans.#با_من_به_ورزشگاه_بیا pic.twitter.com/AwX1aPlTGf
— Kian Sharifi (@KianSharifi) October 10, 2019