Idols and Underdogs

An anthology of Latin American football fiction

Eleven stories, one from each country in the South American World Cup qualifying group, plus Mexico (following the precedent set by the Copa América).

Idols and Underdogs includes some of the most prestigious names in Latin American literature. A hymn to the jogo bonito, these short stories demonstrate, in stark contrast to its European counterpart, just how connected Latin American football is to its roots in the backstreets, barrios and favelas. Including Juan Villoro (Mexico), Edmundo Paz Soldán (Bolivia), Ricardo Silva Romero (Colombia), Sérgio Sant’Anna (Brazil), Sergio Galarza (Peru), Selva Almada (Argentina), Carlos Abin (Uruguay), Roberto Fuentes (Chile), Miguel Hidalgo Prince (Venezuela), José and Hidalgo Pallares (Ecuador), and Javier Viveros (Paraguay), this is a who’s who of Latin American fiction. Also contains author interviews, charting personal views on football and its intersections with politics, literature, and wider culture.

Idols and Underdogs is an English translation of Por amor a la pelota: once cracks de la ficción futbolera. Translated by George Shivers, Shawn Stein and Richard McGehee.