Published in June 2025, Issue Fifty Seven and its six sections contains 16 articles including the story of Ireland touring South America despite the Falklands Conflict; how President Trump’s political bombast will impact US relations with Canada and Mexico; how the language of football has infiltrated everyday discourse in Argentina; the bizarre decline of Suwon Samsung Bluewings, a club run for profit not glory.
AGAINST THE ODDS
The Lost Hope – Uroš Jovičić
Ivica Osim, the 1990 World Cup and what might have happened if Yugoslavia had won it
The First Professionals – Gisle Thorsen
Before 2025, the last Scandinavian side to reach a European semi-final was Brøndby, in 1991
THE MODERN WORLD
This is America – Ben Gilbert
How will President Trump’s political bombast impact US relations with Canada and Mexico?
Hostages – Shaul Adar
The story of a Hapoel Beer Sheva fan kidnapped on October 7, and the complications of war
The Desecration of a Dream – Itay Goder
Beni Sakhnin used to be a beacon for Arabs in Israel. But the conflict has ruined that
Spartak in a Time of War – Sergey Bondarenko
A football club, a documentary, and radically opposed views on the invasion of Ukraine
PHOTO ESSAY
The Far Corner – Colin McPherson
Cornish football has always been held back by being a long way from anywhere
MEANING
Punk and the Terraces – Richard Purden
The greatest inspiration for John Lydon and Jah Wobble was football chanting
The Illusion of Friendly Oppressors – Ronnie Blaschke
The colonial powers took football to the lands they conquered, but at dreadful cost
Dying to Play – Dexter Plato
How death records provide an invaluable insight into the pre-history of the game
Can Happiness Buy Money? – Neel Shelat
It has passionate fans, invested owners and beautiful backdrops, but Bhutanese football has no money
What is Football Heritage? – Josh Bland
Discussion of what a club is centres on badges and colours; they are far more than that
Dame Bola – Chrisopher Hylland
How the language of football has infiltrated everyday discourse in Argentina
CURIOSITIES
Taking the Plunge – Margaret Brecknell
When the Liverpool centre-forward Bernard Pykett lost a leg in the war, he became a stunt diver
Tour de Farce – Oliver Price
How Ireland toured South America despite the Falklands Conflict – and nearly called up a rugby player
One Team in Suwon – Mason Auman
The bizarre decline of Suwon Samsung Bluewings, a club run for profit not glory
Conflagration – Rodrigo Barneschi
Travelling with the Palmeiras torcida to a Libertadores game away to Peñarol
GREATEST GAME
Austria 3 East Germany 0 – Vladimir Novak
World Cup qualifier, Uefa zone, Praterstadion, Vienna, 15 November 1989
FICTION
Bad Faith – Callum Rice-Coates
A prodigious young talent plagued by doubt visits his therapist
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