Featured
Calcio, Cultura & Arte: The Culture Division meets Venezia FC
Ending their 19 year absence from Serie A brought global acclaim. But at its heart, Venezia FC have retained the spirit of their humble beginnings. As their Chief Marketing Officer, Ted Philipakos points out, embracing that — rather than running from it — has been essential to their meteoric rise.
Featured / Essays
Cultured: Serie B
Due to a quirk of fate, the 2022/23 Serie B season has concocted a mixture perfect for the enjoyment of Italian football culture. There are some of Italy’s most interesting clubs: once-great teams on a journey of redemption; iconic players in the twilight of their careers; and football-fashion powerhouses — all set against the backdrop of some of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Cuba’s Complicated Relationship with the Beautiful Game
Language requires context. In most of the Spanish-speaking world, ‘una pelota’ is almost universally recognised as the translation for ‘a football.’ When Maradona spoke of the pelota, we knew what he meant. But Cuba has always prided itself on being different. In Cuba, if you’re talking about pelota, you’re talking about something altogether different. You’re talking about the national sport: baseball.
Age of the Rebrand: Italy’s New Badge and Football’s Design Direction
The new year may only be a few days old, but Italy’s football federation, the Federazione Italia Giuoco Calcio (FIGC), has already revealed its new logo. In fact, it’s launched two: the federation's new logo appeared back in October, but the latest reveal is of significant greater interest since it will be worn by the Italian national team on its shirts. “We’re ready for the future,” claimed FIGC president Gabriele Gravina at the brand launch, perhaps not speaking for everyone.
Featured / TCD Meets
The Culture Division meets Vermont Green FC: Environmental Justice in the Green Mountain State
“Our club aims to reflect the life-affirming aspects of football, and leverage this passion not just in the sporting side, but off-pitch as well through our mission to promote environmental justice.”
Repositioning Greek Football: The Culture Division Meets Athens Kallithea FC
In September, Athens Kallithea boldly announced itself to the world. We spoke to the club’s President, Ted Phillipakos, on the significance of their journey, the issues at the heart of Greek Super League, and Athens Kallithea’s aim to change Greek football for the better.
Humanising Pelé: The Culture Division meets filmmaker Ben Nicholas
Netflix's Pelé goes further than any other documentary at cracking one of the oldest enigmas in football. We spoke to co-director Ben Nicholas on his search for the man behind the myth.
Featured / Community
Supporting Local: The Importance of Your Grassroots Women’s Football Team
Over the last few years, the female football scene has hit something of a boom in London. Grassroots leagues are expanding to cater to the increased number of teams all across the capital. But as amazing as it is to see the vibrant football community in London grow, the rest of the country still has some work to do to catch up.
‘We Are Here to Serve’: The Deep-Rooted Community Culture of Icelandic Football
Beyond football, in other sports and endeavours such as music and art, access and high-quality exposure is a right for the country’s youth. Football’s part in this relationship was succinctly and insightfully revealed to me when Jón summarised the function of Fram to me as “here to serve the community.”
Football, Grief, and Overcoming
There have been a few milestones in the four months since her passing that have signaled I may be “getting used” to my grief: when I started sleeping through the night again, or when my appetite went back to normal. But the one thing that has taken the longest to return is my capacity to experience any form of emotion, not just grief or sorrow. How did I know it had started to come back? That’s an easy one.
Featured / One World
An Adventure in Marseille
The next day, admiring the sprawling views from the hilltop Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, we’re still drunk on the passion, the ecstasy, the anxiety and the relief that us and 65,000 others felt last night. Our time in Marseille has opened our eyes to the core values of a game that means the absolute world to millions of people across the globe.
In the Land of Fire and Ice
After ordering a double shot of espresso I asked the woman behind the counter where I could find some football pitches. She reached down, grabbed a map and proceeded to list out every pitch we would come across as we made our way along the Fjord.
A Love Letter to Medellin
Medellin is called ”The City of Eternal Spring” and that slogan alone should make you want to pack your bags. You lot can have summer, I’m all for spring. And Medellin embodies spring. Spring is about anticipation. Excitement. Resurrection.
We tell football stories.
When football crosses paths with music, fashion, art, cinema and literature, it can empower communities and unite people from all around the world. Our aim is to tell those stories here, through our journalism, creative work and collaboration with like-minded brands and NGOs.