Pink Card tells the story of Iranian women fighting for their rights, with the soccer stadium as a battleground.

In Iran, women are banned from soccer stadiums. But some dare to defy that. From 30 for 30 Podcasts, Pink Card tells a story of Iranian women fighting for their rights across three generations. They use ingenious tactics and risk their lives to take back their stadiums and their joy in the game. Created by Shima Oliaee (Dolly Parton’s America, Radiolab), Pink Card will forever change how you see fandom and freedom. Available December 8th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Series host Shima Oliaee found soccer was a portal to her mother’s home country: Iran. Why did soccer mean so much to her? Shima and her mom meet a young Iranian woman and soccer fan, who’s been named an enemy of the state.

What if I told you...women in Iran *can’t even go to a soccer game.* They’re banned from stadiums. New from 30 for 30 Podcasts, ‘Pink Card’ tells the tale of Iranian women who dare to risk it all – for the simple right to watch a soccer match. Creator Shima Oliaee (Oh-lee-eye) reports on generations of women – who’ve fought to take back their stadiums – and their joy of the game. ‘Pink Card’ will forever change how you see fandom and freedom - keep listening for the first episode and binge the full season now in the 30 for 30 Podcasts feed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The new regime in Iran strips women’s rights, bit by bit. When women are banned from the national soccer stadium, it becomes a battleground.

This episode starts with two questions: If women equally led the 1979 revolution, why were their rights stripped away first? How does this happen to an emboldened part of the population? At first, the women fight back, chanting “Azadi! Azadi!” [translation: “Freedom! Freedom!”] in the streets until the clerics back down. But in a story told by legendary writer and activist Mehrangiz Kar, women’s rights erode one by one – leading us to the nationwide ban on women at stadiums. This is when Iran's national soccer stadium becomes a battleground. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An activist group, the "White Scarves,” meets in secret. The women use high-profile soccer games to get press. Their capers get them into the stadium, but they face grave danger.

One game sets off a movement. In 1997 Iran surprisingly makes the World Cup in the last three minutes of play against Australia. When Iran's national team gets helicoptered into Azadi Stadium to celebrate, women are asked to stay home. They don't listen, and thousands rush the stadium. This is the origin story of the White Scarves, a group that uses international soccer matches to defy the regime and take back their country. As the White Scarves gain international fame, they face grave danger at home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new generation defies the stadium ban. They cross-dress as men and go public on social media. They face dire consequences and also a brief victory. Pink Card connects the 2022 uprising to the longer struggle for women.

(Warning: this episode includes description of a suicide). The newest generation of Iranian girl soccer fans take a bold new approach. They cross-dress as men to sneak into Azadi Stadium, documenting their rebellion live on social media - an irreverent middle finger to the government. One of those girls is Zeinab Sahafy, from Episode 1. One night four of her friends are arrested and she flees for her life. Another girl, still in the country, loses her life. In a moment described as “a miracle,” Iran’s regime relents on its ban and thousands of women enter the stadium. We end Pink Card wondering how this hard-won slice of freedom connects to the 2022 historic protests and a possible new revolution, more than 40 years after Shima’s teenage mother left home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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7dReuters

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Group A	GP	W	D	L	GD	P
Netherlands	3	2	1	0	+4	7
Senegal	3	2	0	1	+1	6
Ecuador	3	1	1	1	+1	4
Qatar	3	0	0	3	-6	0
Group B	GP	W	D	L	GD	P
England	3	2	1	0	+7	7
United States	3	1	2	0	+1	5
Iran	3	1	0	2	-3	3
Wales	3	0	1	2	-5	1
Group C	GP	W	D	L	GD	P
Argentina	3	2	0	1	+3	6
Poland	3	1	1	1	0	4
Mexico	3	1	1	1	-1	4
Saudi Arabia	3	1	0	2	-2	3
Group D	GP	W	D	L	GD	P
France	3	2	0	1	+3	6
Australia	3	2	0	1	-1	6
Tunisia	3	1	1	1	0	4
Denmark	3	0	1	2	-2	1
Group E	GP	W	D	L	GD	P
Japan	3	2	0	1	+1	6
Spain	3	1	1	1	+6	4
Germany	3	1	1	1	+1	4
Costa Rica	3	1	0	2	-8	3
Group F	GP	W	D	L	GD	P
Morocco	3	2	1	0	+3	7
Croatia	3	1	2	0	+3	5
Belgium	3	1	1	1	-1	4
Canada	3	0	0	3	-5	0
Group G	GP	W	D	L	GD	P
Brazil	3	2	0	1	+2	6
Switzerland	3	2	0	1	+1	6
Cameroon	3	1	1	1	0	4
Serbia	3	0	1	2	-3	1
Group H	GP	W	D	L	GD	P
Portugal	3	2	0	1	+2	6
South Korea	3	1	1	1	0	4
Uruguay	3	1	1	1	0	4
Ghana	3	1	0	2	-2	3