After nearly three decades Iran is permitting its women inside football stadiums, thanks to the national team’s good showing at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Russia. Iran’s hardline religious authorities have barred the country’s women from entering football stadiums to watch matches. The breakthrough this year comes on the back of Iran’s good showing at the FIFA World Cup and resilience from local activists who’ve for long campaigned for the banned to be lifted. Despite good performance Iran has failed to enter the knockout stages of the World Cup.