Collecting 11 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 soccer 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 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.
