Gothia – the book about the world’s biggest youth event
Today the book “Gothia – about friendship, dreams and the football tournament that became the world’s biggest” is released.
It tells the story of a football adventure born in Gothenburg that went on to change the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people around the world.
– With this book, we want to show that Gothia Cup is much more than just football, says Dennis Andersson, the tournament’s legendary leader.
Gothia is the story of a dream that began in a worn-down clubhouse and grew into the world’s biggest meeting place for young people – and a global phenomenon.
The words first written down in a simple notebook were: “We want to increase understanding between young people from different cultures and religions.”
Since Gothia Cup started, more than 1.3 million players from 151 countries have taken part in the tournament in Gothenburg.
A story about hope for the future
Now “Mr Gothia” – the tournament director Dennis Andersson – tells the full story: of football’s power to bring people together, of the impact of world politics from the Cold War onwards, of the teen disco that became world famous, and of personal stories – like the Bolivian who founded Tahuichi, one of the tournament’s most loved teams.
– I’ve met children who’ve dreamed all their lives of coming here, and parents who’ve done everything to make it possible. Gothia Cup is more than a tournament – it’s about hope, togetherness, and belief in the future, says Dennis Andersson.
Faced with closure
The book comes out just in time for the tournament’s 50th anniversary. It is written by Dennis Andersson together with sports journalist Henrik Ekblom Ystén from Offside magazine.
It also shares the drama behind the scenes – when the tournament nearly shut down during the 1980s, and when the 2020 pandemic led to the first ever cancellation in its history.
It was during that time of uncertainty that the idea for the book was born.
– We wanted to document everything we’ve been through, before any of it was forgotten. And to show why Gothia Cup is much more than just football, says Andersson.
It'll be released in English on the 1st of July.
