Football Case Study

Football Case Study Football Case Study is an editorial and research platform dedicated to showcasing the diverse cultures that make our game beautiful.

While London-based Photographer Will Elsom isn’t a huge fan of football, it’s followed him wherever he’s gone. As if hom...
01/05/2026

While London-based Photographer Will Elsom isn’t a huge fan of football, it’s followed him wherever he’s gone. As if home can’t leave his side, he finds himself in conversation with strangers about the sport and his lack of allegiance to local clubs throughout his travels, from the vertical mountains of Indonesia to the winding medinas of Morocco.

But it’s this community and chance for conversation that football conjures where Will finds himself captivated. And while on a late-summer trip to Zambia in 2019 for a photography assignment in an emerald mine, Will was reminded of how the sport translates to the world after a day below the earth, surrounded by geological wonders.

For the full story, click the link in our bio.

Photography by Will Elsom ()

On this Earth Day, we at Football Case Study are appreciating the ground that supports us, moves us, and connects us, by...
22/04/2026

On this Earth Day, we at Football Case Study are appreciating the ground that supports us, moves us, and connects us, by showcasing a selection of our Member’s photography that captures the landscape of places they’ve impacted; whether it was home, a visit, or a fleeting moment.

We recognize the terrain between us not as a boundary, but as a shared space sewed with opportunity to exchange thought, creativity, and solutions that keep our spaces sacred and our environment thriving. The soil is where we place our flags and draw our lines, but it is also the one thing we have in total commonality. Without the tender care of every individual in all of the places we cherish, there would be nothing left.

Earth Day was first officially recognized in 1970, but we know the planet’s celebratory spirit goes back further and will continue to sprawl into the future for the rest of our time—as long as our care remains.

Photography by Football Case Study Members Matthew David Stith (), Ethan White (), Scott Groult (), Andrea Vílchez (), Alejandro Gutiérrez Mora (), Anders Hviid () & Willem de Kam ()

“Iraklis (Hercules in English) was not a typical God of Greek mythology. Before he climbed Mount Olympus and met Zeus, P...
15/04/2026

“Iraklis (Hercules in English) was not a typical God of Greek mythology. Before he climbed Mount Olympus and met Zeus, Poseidon, Athena and all the other Gods, he went through enormous trials: He almost died when he was a baby, but he strangled the snakes that Hera had sent to kill him with his own hands; he brought back the Golden Apples of the Hesperides, and he defeated the Nemean Lion that was attacking the city of Nemea; and these were only 3 of his 12 labors. In the end, though, he made it. 

In many ways, this resembles the story of modern Iraklis. Only this time, it is not a tall, omnipresent man with strong arms and a sharp mind, but an entire team with thousands of loyal followers who believe in its own mythology and stand by it in both the good and the bad times— mostly in the bad ones.”

In this dispatch out of Thessaloniki, Greece, Football Case Study Member Akis Katsoudas tells the story of the city’s oldest football club, Iraklis, that after nine years, has returned to the top division—but before the trophy was lifted, Akis uncovered the turbulent road taken prior to tasting victory. Read his account at the link in our bio.

Photography and words by Football Case Study Member Akis Katsoudas ()

There are three days that have shaped Kosovo’s recent history.June 10, 1999: The day the first elements of NATO-led Koso...
02/04/2026

There are three days that have shaped Kosovo’s recent history.

June 10, 1999: The day the first elements of NATO-led Kosovo Force entered the region to drive out Serb forces who had been prosecuting a war of ethnic cleansing against 1 million Kosovo Albanians. February 17, 2008: Independence Day, the start of a new chapter for our young republic which had been under UN supervision since 1999. And most recently, March 31, 2026: The day Kosovo’s national team would play the biggest game in its short history as a FIFA and UEFA member. After an arduous process of nation building, Kosovo was announcing itself to the world, standing tall amongst Europe’s football elite.

The goal set by coach Franco F**a ahead of World Cup qualifying had always been to lay the foundations for a successful Euro 2028 qualifying campaign. In a group with Switzerland, Slovenia and Sweden, the task ahead was always going to be hard. But after a 4-0 loss to Switzerland in the opening game, Kosovo went unbeaten, presenting an opportunity to qualify for a historic first World Cup.

Last Tuesday, Prishtina, Kosovo’s capital, had not seen a day like this since Independence Day as thousands filled the streets, confident that this team would fulfill the dreams of generations before it. From across the Balkans, Albanians made the journey in cars draped in flags with the double headed eagle, a reminder of the many who Kosovo was playing for. With just 12,500 tickets, over 200,000 fans were left without access into the stadium, gathering in bars and on balconies to catch a glimpse of the game.

On a night when everything pointed to celebration, Turkey delivered the decisive blow, edging Kosovo 1-0 to silence the dream.

As a fan online said, “S’jemi mësu mu gëzu:” “We are not used to being happy.”

Our people have suffered at the hands of those who tried their best to make sure we wouldn’t exist; this was about much more than the result.

Despite the heartbreak, Kosovo showed itself to the world, not just as a team on the brink, but as a nation that continues to rise, even when the ending isn’t the one it deserved.

Photography by Enis Abdullahu ()

As part of his ongoing series “Emergency Exit,” a 2026 project centering the ongoing shift of the Brazilian football lan...
27/03/2026

As part of his ongoing series “Emergency Exit,” a 2026 project centering the ongoing shift of the Brazilian football landscape, São Paolo-based Photographer Gabriel Borelli documented the highly-anticipated match between Portuguesa and Corinthians as it unraveled within the Estádio do Canindé late last month. Through his lens, Gabriel captured the duality of the moment, juxtaposing the simultaneous feelings of disappointment and hope in the stadium atmosphere.

“The opening of Portuguesa’s final season at Canindé felt worthy of the club’s stature. After a long absence, they reached the quarterfinals of the São Paulo’s state championship, eventually falling to Corinthians on penalties.

Despite the disappointment, something meaningful was reignited among the supporters, a spark that had been dim for far too long. A renewed belief that Portuguesa can return to where it has always belonged, and once again bring joy to its people.”

Words and Photography by Gabriel Borelli ()

In November 2024, Italy-based Photographer Lorenzo Gargiulo travelled across India, starting from the northern regions a...
24/03/2026

In November 2024, Italy-based Photographer Lorenzo Gargiulo travelled across India, starting from the northern regions and eventually making his way down to Varanasi. One of the most intense parts of the journey was Ladakh, a high-altitude desert suspended between the Himalayas and the Karakoram range.

“At over 4,000 meters above sea level, everything feels slowed down. The air is thin, movements are heavier, and time seems to stretch.”

In that dry, vast, and almost lunar landscape, Lorenzo encountered a group of locals playing football on a dusty field at the foot of the Himalayas. No proper lines, no stadium, no structure, just a ball, altitude, and breath turning short in the cold air.

When Lorenzo came back from India, the images stayed with him for months. He had photographed that moment on Kodak film, but hadn’t seen it come to life—until now.

At the link in our bio, relive the scenery of Ladakh alongside Lorenzo in the darkroom.

Words and Photography by Lorenzo Gargiulo ()

When Italy-based Photographer Levi Calanco was asked to shoot for Venezia FC, he hadn’t yet dabbled in sports photograph...
17/03/2026

When Italy-based Photographer Levi Calanco was asked to shoot for Venezia FC, he hadn’t yet dabbled in sports photography. Now, four years later, everything has changed.

In this Monograph* out of Serie B, Levi shares the philosophy of curiosity he carries with him daily as he documents the sporting triumphs of Venezia FC’s women’s, men’s and youth teams, as well as their energetic fan base alongside the Venetian lagoon.

“The chaotic moments, full of speed, strong passions, the endless clash of emotions between opposing fans, staff and players—I love it all.”

Read Levi’s full perspective, available in both English and Italian, at the link in our bio.

Words and photography by Levi Calanco ()

Through the Viewfinder: Atalanta BC vs FC Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League, March 10, 2026 Photographed by Luca Tadd...
11/03/2026

Through the Viewfinder: Atalanta BC vs FC Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League, March 10, 2026

Photographed by Luca Taddeo ()

Through the Viewfinder: AC Milan vs Inter Milan, Serie A, March 8, 2026 Photography by Giuseppe Romano ()
10/03/2026

Through the Viewfinder: AC Milan vs Inter Milan, Serie A, March 8, 2026

Photography by Giuseppe Romano ()

Tijuana-based Football Case Study Member Alejandro Gutiérrez Mora had come lens to face with the Mexican National Team o...
08/03/2026

Tijuana-based Football Case Study Member Alejandro Gutiérrez Mora had come lens to face with the Mexican National Team on various occasions—but something was always amiss: it was never on home soil.

When an assignment brought him down to Querétaro to shoot Mexico vs Iceland on February 25, the dream of capturing his nation in his home country was actualized. But it was just days prior when the killing of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes by authorities resulted in unrest across Mexico, turning the match into a test for national stability ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

“In the end, the match would be played. Despite the uncertainty. Despite the tension,” Alejandro writes. “What had been a routine friendly suddenly became the most significant rehearsal ahead of the World Cup, just three days after the death of the country’s most wanted criminal.”

At the link in our bio, read Alejandro’s first-hand experience of this match day in Querétaro.

Words and Photography by FCS Member Alejandro Gutiérrez Mora ()

In late October 2025, long-time collaborators and friends Anders Hviid and Jonas Villumsen released their new book GRÆSS...
04/03/2026

In late October 2025, long-time collaborators and friends Anders Hviid and Jonas Villumsen released their new book GRÆSSULT, published by Copenhagen-based literary publisher . The trio celebrated in style with a release party in København at Monday Studio before sending the book—Villumsen’s second after “Bølge – eller otte noter fra tribunen” (“Wave – or eight notes from the stands”)—off into the world. 

In “GRÆSSULT,” the main character stands at a vulnerable point in his existence, searching for an anchor, or perhaps just a lifeline, in a life that finds itself in an upheaval phase. Enter football, whose hypnotic rituals that take place under the stadium floodlights and at home by the living room table become a supporting character in and of itself. 

At the link in our bio, enter the world of “GRÆSSULT” by reading our conversation with the artists behind the pages alongside imagery, an excerpt, and a way to purchase the 220-page book by the Copenhagen duo. 

Photography by Football Case Study Member Anders Hviid ()

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