Getting angry at the wrong flag
A Ukrainian fan drew the ire of his hosts, even though they’d probably agree with his intentions.
When footballers have the wrong passport
Cuba’s national team lost the chance to qualify for the Gold Cup because they could not get their U.S. visas on time.
Macedonian debut marred by an Austrian’s racist tirade
Tensions between Serbia and Albania surfaced in a game – and a tournament – which involved neither of them.
Nationalism, fashion and football: Ukraine’s new shirt
UEFA found itself (again) in the middle of a political spat between Ukraine and Russia.
The Pope’s XI
The beautiful game is even played behind the walls of Vatican City. Sort of.
That Egypt-Israel match that never happened
Now that football has returned to our lives, we take a look at a match that was cancelled during the pandemic — for reasons that had nothing to do with the virus.
Lefter Küçükandonyadis
A Turkish sports hero. The son of a Greek fisherman. The footballer who balanced two supposedly incompatible national identities.
A migrant’s sport
The search for a balance between identity and inclusivity for Australia’s football continues.
If he scores another few, the world could be a better place
Researchers suggest that a footballer’s on-pitch success in England could lead to a sharp decline in hate crime. This is an opportunity for clubs to make a real difference.
Croatia v Greece
The Nations and Balls alternative preview to the play-off that a Croatia legend called the “worst possible draw.”
