Idols and Underdogs

An anthology of the very best in South American fiction about football/soccer. Eleven stories, one from each country in the South American World Cup qualifying group, plus Mexico (following a precedent set by the Copa America). Idols and Underdogs includes some of the most prestigious names in Latin American literature. A hymn to the juego benito, these stories demonstrate, in stark contrast to its European counterpart, just how connected South American football is to its roots in the backstreets, barrios and favelas. Including Juan Villoro (Mexico), Edmundo Paz Soldan (Bolivia), Ricardo Silva Romero (Colombia), Sergio Sant’Anna (Brazil), Sergio Galarza (Peru), Selva Almada (Argentina), Carlos Abin (Uruguay), Roberto Fuentes (Chile), Miguel Hidalgo Prince (Venezuela), Jose Hidalgo Pallares (Ecuador), and Javier Viveros (Paraguay), this is a Who’s Who of Latin male fiction. Also contains author interviews, charting personal views on football and its intersections with politics, literature and wider culture.