Iranian women attend first soccer match in 40 years

(Reuters) - Iranian women entered the country's national stadium in Tehran on Thursday after being able to purchase tickets for a national team game for the first time in 40 years.

Women have been banned from watching men's games since shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution with only a few exceptions made for small groups on rare occasions.

But under pressure from world governing body FIFA and women's rights campaigners, Iranian authorities earmarked around 3,000 tickets for them to Thursday's World Cup Asian qualifier against Cambodia in the 78,000 capacity Azadi Stadium.

The tickets are for a special women's only section of the stadium, a decision that has been criticized by some campaigners who would prefer women to be able to attend with their male family members.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/Sports/soccer/iranian-women-attend-first-soccer-match-in-40-years/ar-AAIzGDf