Idols and Underdogs

This collection of 11 stories—one from each country in the South American World Cup qualifying group, plus Mexico (following a precedent set by the Copa America)—includes some of the most prestigious names in Latin American literature. A hymn to the juego benito, these stories demonstrate just how connected South American soccer is to its roots in 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 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 the sport and its intersections with politics, literature and wider culture.

Foreword, 1
Rodge Glass

Prologue, 7
Shawn Stein and Nicolás Campisi

Argentina, 15
Selva Almada

Bolivia, 33
Edmundo Paz Soldán

Brazil, 51
Sérgio Sant’Anna

Chile, 87
Roberto Fuentes

Colombia, 107
Ricardo Silva Romero

Ecuador, 133
José Hidalgo Pallares

Mexico, 151
Juan Villoro

Paraguay, 181
Javier Viveros

Peru, 211
Sergio Galarza

Uruguay, 231
Carlos Abin

Venezuela, 273
Miguel Hidalgo Prince