Iranian women allowed to watch landmark moment as Iran qualifies for World Cup in Qatar
By Aleks Klosok, CNN
Updated 1718 GMT (0118 HKT) January 28, 2022
Iran supporters cheer during the 2022 Qatar World Cup Asian Qualifiers match between Iran and Iraq.(CNN)Iranian women were allowed to share a landmark moment as Iran secured qualification on Thursday for November's World Cup in Qatar.
According to the national team's website, female supporters entered through a special entrance via a car park, controlled by policewomen wearing black chador robes and red badges on their arms. They were separated from men in the stadium.Since October 2019, Covid-19 restrictions in the country have prohibited all fans from entering stadiums to watch the national team — that was until Thursday.According to the country's news agency ISNA, 2,000 out of 10,000 tickets sold for the the 2022 World Cup qualifying match between Iran and Iraq at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran were given to women.Iranian fans pose for a selfie ahead of the 2022 Qatar World Cup Asian Qualifiers match between Iran and Iraq.It's unclear, though, exactly how many women were ultimately present in the stadium on Thursday.Read MoreFemale supporters that were in attendance were pictured with the national colours painted on their cheeks, with many carrying and waving Iranian flags.«I am very happy. This is the first time I have attended a match at the Azadi Stadium,» a 26-year-old civil engineer who gave her name only as Mahya told AFP. Mahya added that there was «nothing strange or complicated» about a woman going to the stadium.«It should have happened earlier but I am very happy and I hope that this will continue,» she said.Another female supporter, 24-year-old Golnaz Bahari, told AFP: «I wished to have my husband beside me but they said men and women are