Futebol Nation

Futebol Nation by David Goldblatt - a thriling history of Brazil through its sporting passion

From the genius of Pelé to corruption and civil unrest, no nation has so closely aligned its national identity with playing and watching football as Brazil.

Football is regarded as a thing of joy, its yellow shirts a delightful amalgam of sport and art, entwined with its cultures of music and religion. This is true, but there is another side to the story too. The corruption of Brazil's football authorities is characteristic of its society as a whole; some of its biggest tournaments have recently been played amidst the largest protests Brazil has ever seen.

From the acclaimed author of the classic football history The Ball… Keep Reading