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New Claim by Mehdi Taj: National Security Council Approves Women's Entry into Stadiums

Feb 7, 2026 February 7, 2026 2 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

Mehdi Taj, head of the Iranian Football Federation, claims that the National Security Council has approved women's entry into stadiums, marking a significant development in a long-standing issue. However, the actual implementation remains uncertain as it requires further approval from the Supreme Leader. This matter is crucial as it reflects ongoing tensions between FIFA requirements and Iranian governmental policies.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The approval of women's entry into stadiums could signify a significant, albeit tentative, step towards gender equality in Iran.

👥 Key Players

Mehdi Taj MENTIONED
Head of the Iranian Football Federation
"Taj is a key figure in the push for women's rights in sports within Iran, representing the intersection of sports governance and social issues."
National Security Council MENTIONED
Governmental body responsible for national security policies
"Their approval is crucial for implementing policies in Iran, including those affecting women's rights and public access to sports events."
Ali Khamenei MENTIONED
Supreme Leader of Iran
"As the highest authority in Iran, Khamenei's approval is necessary for any significant policy changes, including those related to women's entry into stadiums."

📰 What Happened

Mehdi Taj announced that the National Security Council has approved women's entry into stadiums, marking a potential shift in policy. However, actual implementation depends on further approval from the Supreme Leader.

  • This is the first time the National Security Council's approval has been mentioned regarding women's presence in stadiums.
  • Women have only been allowed to attend a few national competitions in recent years despite repeated promises.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: This development reflects a potential easing of restrictions on women's rights in Iran, which could influence broader social reforms.
🌍 Regional: It may set a precedent for other countries in the region regarding women's rights and public participation in sports.
🌐 International: This issue is closely monitored by international organizations like FIFA, which may impact Iran's standing in global sports.

📚 Background

Women in Iran have faced restrictions on attending sports events for decades, with sporadic allowances that often lead to public outcry when not followed through.

Women's rights in Iran FIFA regulations on gender equality
📡 Source: STATE MEDIA
📊 Confidence: 70%
As a statement from a government official, this announcement may reflect optimistic projections rather than guaranteed policy changes.

Mehdi Taj, the head of the Iranian Football Federation, once again promised that women will be allowed to enter stadiums. This time he stated that the National Security Council of the Islamic Republic has agreed to the presence of women. In a conversation with Islamic Republic of Iran Sports Radio on Friday, Taj said, 'We will have the entry of women.' Fortunately, the National Security Council has approved this issue and a working group has been appointed to decide on the implementation method. The Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Sports and Youth, the Football Federation, and two intelligence agencies are planning how women will enter. This is not the first time he has promised women's presence in football stadiums, a requirement imposed on the Iranian authorities by FIFA, but each time Iranian officials have evaded it. In recent years, women have only been allowed to attend a few national competitions. Despite Taj's repeated promises, this is the first time it has been said that the National Security Council has agreed to women's presence. This council, which is a governmental body in the Islamic Republic, consists of both real and legal persons, and its security resolutions can be implemented after approval by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. The secretariat of the National Security Council has not yet reacted to Taj's claim, and even if this council approves it, Ali Khamenei must confirm it. In another part of his remarks, Mehdi Taj referred to the stadiums where women will be allowed to attend and said, 'The issue of their coming or not coming is no longer relevant.' Women will be present in stadiums like Gol Gohar, Sepahan, Zob Ahan, and Ghadir Ahvaz, which are suitable. Azadi Stadium must also be prepared. According to Etemad, 'While Mehdi Taj announced the names of four stadiums where women can watch Premier League matches, Azadi Stadium is not among them! In recent years, whenever women have come to watch national and club matches, they were hosted at Azadi Stadium, and it was always said that Azadi Stadium is currently the only stadium in Iran that is ready for women's presence, and it is unclear what has happened in these months that Azadi Stadium is not ready to host women!'

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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