Soccer
The Story Behind All 48 Sports Illustrated World Cup Covers
Artists strongly connected to each nation were asked to create an illustration that captures the cultural heartbeat of soccer in their country. The result? Forty-eight windows into the many ways the artistry of the beautiful game extends far beyond those who play it.
Stephen Cannella|
Sports Illustrated’s World Cup preview covers through the years have featured some of the biggest names in soccer: Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappé. But last fall, when we started making plans for the cover of this issue, creative director Stephen Skalocky had an idea: What if we tried something a little more … democratic? Yes, the World Cup is all about superstars. But the true joy of the tournament stems from the ways it brings communities and cultures together every four years. Soccer (or football, or fútbol) is the global game. It also carries a localized resonance in nearly every country on the map. This World Cup, with its expanded 48-team field, would directly touch more communities than ever before. What if we celebrated that local spirit rather than a few transcendent personalities?
