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PERSPECTIVES

“FOOTBALL IS A VESSEL FOR CONNECTION”: INTERVIEW WITH ANDREA VÍLCHEZ

Photographer Andrea Vílchez reflects on her path in football photography, most recently during Football Case Study’s landmark trip to Morocco to cover WAFCON. In this intimate conversation, she shares how connection, trust, and curiosity shape her work both on and off the pitch.

WELSH FANS CELEBRATE THEIR GOALS EVEN WHEN LOSING 5–1

Akis Katsoudas captures the spirit of Wales’ first-ever Women’s Euro appearance, where even a heavy 6–1 defeat to England couldn’t dampen the celebrations. The stands in St. Gallen rang with songs, flags, and pride, showing that for these supporters, participation alone was a milestone worth honoring. It was a reminder that in football, joy can live well beyond the scoreline.

FOR GIRLS IN CASABLANCA, DREAMS OF FOOTBALL GO BEYOND THE PAVEMENT

While driving to a match between Nigeria and Tunisia, the Football Case Study team, based in Casablanca for the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, stumbled upon a youth girls club that is redefining the ways young women approach football in the region. By finding inspiration through the Moroccan women’s national team and recieving support from their families, the young footballers see no limit in their future.

ETHIOPIAN SPORTS FEDERATION IN NORTH AMERICA: WHERE FOOTBALL IS A VESSEL OF CULTURE

Every summer, the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America (ESFNA) brings together 32 teams from across the U.S. and Canada—not just to compete, but to connect. From hotel lobbies to late-night stages, the tournament fosters a sense of kinship that stretches beyond city borders or final scores. For many, it’s the only place where culture isn’t just remembered, but relived.

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“FOOTBALL SPOKE TO ME IN DARIJA”: INTERVIEW WITH JINANE ENNASRI

Jinane Ennasri’s work moves between portraiture and cultural documentation, often rooted in her Moroccan heritage. During her time in Morocco covering WAFCON, she explored how football intersects with identity, belonging, and community. Her photographs carry the intimacy of lived experience, revealing the subtle ways the game shapes everyday life.

EXPLORING: MARRAKESH

Football Case Study’s photographers—Jinane Ennasri, Andrea Vílchez, and Matthew David Stith—journeyed from Casablanca to the heart of Marrakesh’s medina during WAFCON to capture everyday life through a footballing lens. From the buzz of street vendors and ancient tea houses to unexpected connections with local children in football jerseys, the day revealed the intimacy that underpins this vibrant city.

EDITORS CHOICE

COMMUNAL OVENS AND SHARED SPACES: THE POWER OF ACCESSIBILITY AT WAFCON

In Morocco, communal ovens known as furans serve as more than just places to bake—they are social spaces that nourish both body and community. From low-cost tickets and free transportation to women attending their first-ever matches, the tournament embraced inclusion across generations. Whether in a Casablanca bakery or Rabat stadium, these public spaces demonstrated how openness, generosity, and cultural values can elevate women’s football and strengthen community ties through shared experience.

BRAZILIAN FANS REASSERT FOOTBALL’S FORGOTTEN POWER

Throughout the Club World Cup, Marvin Heilbronn attended matches of Palmeiras and Fluminense, where he experienced the strength and fervor of the Brazilian clubs’ support and witnessed the prominence of Brazilian football reignite on the international stage. Fans from around the world united for these games; games that offered something deeper than football: a connection to home and to family.

THE LONG ASCENT: WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
AND THE MEANING OF THE AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS

The 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations arrives in Morocco at a defining moment for the women’s game on the continent. From its colonial-era roots and decades of resistance to the present surge in investment and visibility, WAFCON reflects both the progress made and the structural challenges still to overcome. Football Case Study will be on the ground throughout the tournament, documenting its players, cultures, and stakes with the depth this historic moment deserves.

AS A NEW CLUB CLOSES IN,
SAN FRANCISCO CITY FC FIGHTS FOR PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY

Kezar Stadium in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park has recently been made the grounds for a dispute between USL League Two team San Francisco City FC and Golden City FC, an in-development MLS NEXT Pro team being backed by the Mayor, the city and tech investors. As the new club makes its way into town and treads on SF City’s home stadium, Fay Harvey shines a light on how the community feels and what can be learned from clubs of the past.