Pitch magazine: Stories Of Modern Sport

18/06/2026

Brilliant Father's Day gift - he'll love it... https://www.pitch-mag.co.uk/shopall/p/fathers-day-one-year-subscription

15/06/2026

An interview with Dublin-born Cape Verde Star Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes.

Much has been made of FIFA’s $1billion World Cup expansion to 48 teams. With four debut nations bound for North America, the documentation of who they are and how they got there is told through the journey of one unlikely Cape Verdean.

These are exciting times for us, aren’t they?” opens Cape Verde’s Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes, who only recently found out he could play for his nation via an inconspicuous message on LinkedIn. Of all places. His question a rhetorical one, of course.

The 33-year-old is speaking to Pitch from New Zealand, where the Blue Sharks are mid-way through their pre-World Cup training camp. It’s a late night for him, after a long day training in the Land of the Long White Cloud, but the Shamrock Rovers centre-back sounds unhurried, good-humoured, and more than happy to chat. Which is fortunate, for us, because there is rather a lot to discuss. Cabo Verde – to give the country its official name – have never been to a World Cup before. This summer, in Canada, Mexico and (mainly) the United States, that all changes.

Read in full within Issue 16.

Words:

15/06/2026

Celebrate Lewis Hamilton's historic first victory for Ferrari in the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix with a copy of our brilliant homage to the Ferrari marque. Get yours here: https://www.pitch-mag.co.uk/shopall/p/issue-13-ferrari-collectors-edition

LOW STOCK Inside this 132-page collector’s edition magazine, we have dedicated a good amount of time and space to Formula 1’s most successful, and well supported team. Prancing Horse-based content includes Ferrari’s greatest single-seaters, Red Mist atMonza’s Haunted Asphalt, a contemporary ...

14/06/2026

They said the fairytale would take time.

Turns out, Lewis Hamilton had other plans.

First win in Ferrari red. One more chapter in a career that refuses to slow down. Fit as f*ck > Fast as f*ck

🚩

Ferrari: Collector’s Edition | Issue 13

14/06/2026

Give Dad more than a gift this Father’s Day with a season-long print subscription packed content he can really enjoy.

It’s a present that keeps on giving - and one he’ll be proud to display on the shelf. He’ll receive the next four issues, starting with our August edition, while you’ll save £5 on the cover price of every issue and enjoy free postage and packaging.

Sounds good? We certainly think so.

11/06/2026

SVERIGE 1958

Sweden 1958 is remembered as the World Cup where Pelé arrived, and the modern game took shape. Sixteen teams played in a straightforward group then knockout format, with tactical systems evolving from rigid shapes towards more fluid, attacking football. Haunted by defeat in 1950, A Seleção brought a more balanced side built around Pelé (who missed the early matches injured but exploded in the knoclouts), Garrincha and playmaker Didi.

Pelé, the teenage number 10 scored a semi final hat trick against France and two in the final. Brazil’s 5–2 win over hosts Sweden showcased a new, joyful style of football and began their era of global dominance.

10/06/2026

T-MINUS 1 DAY TO GO...

Our World Cup issue has cruised through the Group Stage and is now entering the knockout rounds of its availability.

Pick up your copy at these selected venues:
soholondon.magazines







or, if you prefer, through our website.

Grab the popcorn, put the kettle on, and strap in for the action where new legends take shape x

09/06/2026

URUGUAY 1930

The inaugural World Cup in Uruguay was part diplomatic mission, part football experiment. As stated, only a fraction of the world’s nations (13) sent teams across the Atlantic to Montevideo, where new stadiums rose out of nothing, and local crowds treated every match like a national event. The format was simple: four groups, straight to semi finals, no qualifiers. Uruguay and Argentina, the dominant Río de la Plata powers, duly reached the final. In a febrile Estadio Centenario, the hosts overturned a 2–1 deficit to win 4–2, becoming the first world champions and giving FIFA’s fledgling tournament instant legitimacy and a fierce South American rivalry at its beating heart.

Bonus Point:
The advent of purpose built stadiums. The inaugural World Cup in Uruguay pushed governments and clubs to build and adapt large, enclosed stadia specifically for international crowds, setting a template for future host nation infrastructure drives.

04/06/2026

With just one week to go until the 23rd World Cup kicks off in Mexico City, we’ve dug deep into the archives to revisit a host of unforgettable moments and facts to keep up your sleeve for those inevitable World Cup pub chats this summer.

But first, let's get the big stuff out of the way early. Brazil is the only nation to have participated in every single FIFA World Cup edition since the tournament's inception in 1930. USA ’26 will be the 23rd edition, and the now five-time champions have appeared in all 22 of the preceding versions. Participation-wise, the South Americans are followed by Germany with 20, and Italy and Argentina with 18 each.

To date, a total of 82 footballing nations have competed in FIFA World Cups from 1930 through 2022. This figure includes 77 current nations plus five defunct ones in Yugoslavia, USSR, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, and Serbia & Montenegro. Of all the 48 teams for this summer's expanded tournament, there will be four debutants. Cape Verde (CAF), Curaçao (CONCACAF), Jordan (AFC), and Uzbekistan (AFC) will all make their first appearances. With Curaçao – a Caribbean island of around 150,000 people – becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup.

Stay tuned over the next week as we share a handful of nifty facts and memorable moments from World Cups past and present - with plenty more to enjoy within the pages.

02/06/2026

Ronaldo | 1994-2006

In shortening his 11-syllable birth name to Brazil's -wholly recognisable two-syllable trademark, R9's razored alien lid - debuted at the 2002 World Cup - became the most imitated haircut of a playground generation. His football was decent too...

Brazil: In 10 Characters or Less - #3