For one night last June, Tehran was a different place

The eruption of joy on the streets that followed Iran's 1998 victory over Australia to qualify for its first World Cup since 1978 challenged the rules under which we had lived since the revolution. Public space, especially at night, had been regulated by revolutionary rules, and a siege mentality that was the consequence of the eight-year war with Iraq. But following the final whistle, Tehran – whose pre-revolutionary nightlife was a legend remembered only by the older generations – now witnessed an explosion of uninhibited celebration by men and women expressing their national pride. The soccer celebration saw the city's streets taken back by citizens, setting a precedent for public expressions of joy. For politicians who had for years tried to curb any enthusiasm for the "infidel game" imported by the British, football was seen for the first time in its full political light.

To many observers, the World Cup celebration was as important to the prospects of reforming Iran as the election of President Mohammad Khatami months earlier had been. It signaled a desire on the part of millions of Iranians to be part of the international community; to be seen as football fans rather than zealous revolutionaries.

Will we have cause to celebrate anything that happens in Brazil this summer? Will it matter if we win against Nigeria? Or defeat the football giant Argentina? Probably not. We have already celebrated the 2014 World Cup in Iran. We did it last year, on June 18, when we qualified. Three days earlier Iranians had elected Hassan Rouhani, who promised political moderation both inside and outside the country. Iranians went to vote again, even though four years earlier they had witnessed unbearable violence after what many thought was a stolen election. On the night Rouhani was elected, we went onto the streets, but we were tentative. When our national team won a place in the tournament in Brazil three days later, however, we partied like we had never partied before. And this time, no one came to stop us. For one night last June, Tehran was a different place. We sang and danced with strangers, we honked our horns and danced on city buses and felt empowered. We had turned to the ballot box, yes, but it was through football that we expressed our full sense of joy and relief.

As told to Africasacountry.