From the Archives: A Single Football Match, Barely a Salve
A raw reflection on navigating the US v Iran match at the 2022 World Cup as a hyphenated Iranian.
Around the World in Matches
This is my journey around the world exploring culture through sports, mostly soccer/football.
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From the Archives: Messi Cements His Legacy as the Best of His Generation
Reflecting on a final for the ages, a historic crowning achievement, and the beautiful chaos of the beautiful game.
Footy in Phibsborough and Hurling through the Lens of an Outsider
Capturing the pyrotechnics of Dalymount Park and the community magic of a midlands matchday.
35 Years to Tullamore: Closing the Loop on a Childhood Dream
Decades after stumbling upon a bizarre, beautiful sport on ESPN, I finally stood on an Irish terrace to witness it live.
The Beating Heart of Phibsborough: How Bohemian FC Refuses to Sell Out
Inside Bohemian FC: How Dublin’s fan-owned club balances progressive politics, historic terraces, and the fight against sterile, corporate-washed soccer.
The Accidental Tour Guide: Palace, Poland, and the Porous Borders of Football
Observing the strange, beautiful irony of a European semi-final played on neutral, historic ground.
The Climb to Juliska: A Groundhopper's Guide to Dukla Prague
Why the most rewarding view in Czech football requires a steep ascent, a $3 pilsner, and a deep respect for the "Army Team's" fallen legacy.
Flares, Megaphones, and a War of Attrition
Plans to scout Kahveh Zahiroleslam fell through, but the Ekstraklasa provided a different kind of drama.
On the Shoulders of Giants
From Yale to the Ekstraklasa, Kahveh Zahiroleslam is Navigating the "In-Between" of the Iranian-American Experience.
From the Archives: Murphy's Law at Goodison Park
Revisiting a chaotic trip to the Blue side of Liverpool on the eve of a global—and personal—shift.
No Beer, No Burgers, Just Fury: Two Nights in Belgrade’s Basketball Pressure Cooker
In the Serbian capital, the NBA’s "stadium experience" is replaced by 105 decibels of smoke-filled, high-stakes obsession.
Plastic Pigs and Paper Cones
Cracking seeds and dodging history at the Rajko Mitić Stadium
Ultra Culture on the Hardcourt: What Happens When Legia Warsaw Plays Hoops
December 19th, 2025
From Old Town to the Ultra's Stand: A Match Day in Kraków
November 14, 2025
From Warsaw to the Allianz: A Football Adventure in Munich
October 31st, 2025
Palace Does Europe: A UEFA Adventure in Lublin
October 10th, 2025
Kopite's Abroad: Watching the Merseyside Derby in Warsaw
September 26th, 2025
A Touch of Genius: Remembering Bergkamp's World Cup Masterpiece
From the Archives: July 11th, 2023
The Champions League: More Than A Game
From the archives: April 17th, 2019
The Day the 'Maradona of the Carpathians' Toppled Argentina
Romania v Argentina: World Cup 94 Round of 16.