Published in September 2025, Issue Fifty Eight and its five sections contains 19 articles including the story of Johan Cruyff’s bizarre six month stint at Levante; how a student from the University of Notre Dame played for Ireland; an early attempt to turn football into drama; the rise of South Africa and the role of women’s football.
TOURNAMENTS
The Greatest Show on Earth – Sam Kunti
Gianni Infantino, Donald Trump and the glitz of the Club World Cup
Different Lanes – Jonathan Wilson
The Women’s Euros was a huge success, the Copa América Feminina rather less so
Rise of the Falcons – Neel Shelat
As Morocco suffered heartache again, Nigeria reclaimed the Wafcon
The Drum and the Doubts – Firdose Moonda
The rise of South Africa and the role of women’s football
Injury Time – David Goldblatt
As traditional dramas fade, the Premier League has become the great soap opera
ASIA
One Day in Amman – John Duerden
For Jordan and Palestine, World Cup qualification went to the wire
Home from Home – Tawhid Qureshi
How Leicester’s Hamza Choudhury embraced his Bangladeshi roots
OUT OF PLACE
Big Fish, Small Pond – Brendan Madden
Before returning to Ajax, Johan Cruyff had a bizarre six months at Levante
Fish Basket Rising – Michael Yokhin
How Telstar defied economics to return to the Dutch top flight
A Decade on the Brink – Luca Ferrato
Before Silvio Berlusconi’s takeover, AC Milan were relegated twice in 10 years
Away from Home – Alasdair Howorth
As the civil war goes on, Sudanese football has been forced onto the road
The Ragin Cajun – Sean Cole
In 2007, a student from the University of Notre Dame played for Ireland
Some Other Glory – Benjamin Bagley
Tennis Borussia Berlin, celebrities and the fight against the far right
ASPIRATION
Shooting Star – John Harding
Diana Dors and an early attempt to turn football into drama
Dreams and Songs to Sing – Alan McDougall
A Liverpool fan on football’s capacity to create a sense of community
The Indispensible Role – Miguel Pereira
Rayo Vallecano and the battle to keep a club true to itself
World in Motion – Richard Purden
Peter Hook, New Order, Manchester and football
Shared Heritage – Mark Moran
An Irish writer uncovers his family connection to Alexis Mac Allister
GREATEST GAMES
England 2 West Germany 0 – David Tossell
International Friendly, Wembley Stadium, London, 12 March 1975
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