The June Issue Has Arrived!!!

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The World Cup comes around just once every four years and locks the whole world to its screens — and now it is only hours away. The national teams that will contest the opening match of this tournament are the very same ones that opened the 2010 World Cup — the Spaniards’ favourite edition of them all. The only difference is that this time it is Mexico, rather than South Africa, who take to the pitch as hosts.

The very first World Cup was staged in Uruguay in 1930. From the moment the hosting was handed to Uruguay, the tournament was met with a sweeping boycott from the European nations. Yet, against all odds, it went ahead — and from that date the greatest event in sport was born. We’ve travelled back in time to that era, shining a light on the days leading up to that first-ever tournament; to read it, open page 12.

This issue’s cover article is dedicated to Pelé — the GOAT; the only player ever to win this tournament three times, and a man who, in his own day, did very nearly everything we now treat as the hallmark of a complete footballer. To read his World Cup story, turn to page 22.

Every World Cup is full of bittersweet moments for certain players — because it proves to be the last tournament they will ever contest. And if those same players have never once lifted the trophy, bidding the competition farewell turns more bitter still. In ‘The Last Dance’, we’ve gathered the players appearing at their final World Cup who have never been crowned world champions.

For all the extraordinary legends it has produced down the years, Italy has of late forgotten its old, dominant days. If you’d like to recall the Azzurri’s triumphs — and learn about the failures that have kept them out of the last three World Cups — read our article ‘Italy World Cup 2026’.