NYC World Cup bars
The World Cup starting this week means a riot of colour in New York City. Fans from the competing nations gather in their respective neighborhoods, huddled around TV screens in bars, restaurants and corner shops, with spontaneous celebrations spilling out onto the streets. Italians in the Bronx will flock to the cafés on Arthur Avenue […]
1990: A Stadium Odyssey
On the eve of Italia ’90, writer and stadium historian Simon Inglis published the ‘Football Grounds of Europe’. Researched and recorded during a 51,000-mile trek either side of a still sturdy Berlin Wall, this seminal work is a historical document of the pre-boom era. It is also the only one of its kind, never republished or improved […]
Miami’s new vice
First Beckham, now England. Four months after the former England captain and US soccer figurehead David Beckham exercised his option on an MLS franchise in Miami, his former team-mates have just flown into town to play two warm-up friendlies before the World Cup in Brazil. Long-term resident and soccer expert Simon Evans looks at how […]
Meet me in St Louis
This Friday, a big crowd is expected for Bosnia’s World Cup warm-up fixture with Ivory Coast. The match takes place in St Louis, not only home to Bosnia’s largest expat community, but also America’s first soccer capital. Local expert Dave Lange tells the story of the game in St Louis, provider of half the US […]
Brazil bound!
A century ago today, 15 footballers set off on a boat trip into the unknown. They played for modest Southern League outfit Exeter City and their destination was Brazil. For the later five-time world champions, this would be their first competitive football match, against a non-league team of farmers and yet-to-be discovered England internationals. This […]
When Lisbon roared
With the Champions League final this Saturday, it’s a timely reminder of the last time Europe’s showcase event was staged in Lisbon. Chris Hunt meets veterans of Celtic’s victory over Internazionale, one crazy evening in May 1967. While the later named Lisbon Lions were preparing for the final, their fans were selling their houses and […]
The dutiful game
Founded in 1857, Sheffield FC are struggling with the responsibility of being the world’s oldest football club. Ridding debts by reforming would ruin their raison d’être – but eighth-flight football before 200 people every other Saturday means wage cuts, want-away players and withering form. Paul Martin visits Dronfield to see if ‘The Club’ can climb […]
Gimme a See…
With the illuminated Dome of St Peter’s in the background, the Stadio Petriana provides the perfect setting for Saturday’s tussle between Vatican City and Monaco. Ahead of the clash, Kate Carlisle visits the Vatican and its team of Swiss Guards and Post Office workers. This Saturday, in the shadow of St Peter’s, Vatican City face off […]
Vepsu challenge
This Sunday, VPS (‘Vepsu’ to fans) take on Finnish champions HJK Helsinki in the silverware-bereft regional capital of Vaasa. After a surprise third-place finish in 2013, and the return of European football after 15 years, VPS are currently part of an upsurge in the game around the Ostrobothnia region. Peterjon Cresswell and Miika Kemilä visit the […]