Matteo de Mayda

The first time, Iceland

In summer 2018 Iceland became the smallest nation ever to participate in the FIFA World Cup. After taking part in the 2016 European Championships - and surprising everyone by making it into the quarter finals - Russia 2018 was another great occasion for the men’s team to shine. Iceland was thrilled. And when we say Iceland, we refer to about 330.000 people. Rather than focusing on the technical sides of the game, we told the Icelandic football story as a cultural phenomenon, with an angle that could appeal to sport fans but also to the general public, in Italy and worldwide.

In summer 2018 Iceland became the smallest nation ever to participate in the FIFA World Cup. After taking part in the 2016 European Championships – and surprising everyone by making it into the quarter finals – Russia 2018 was another great occasion for the men’s team to shine. Iceland was thrilled. And when we say Iceland, we refer to about 330.000 people, more or less the population of Bari, a city in Southern Italy.
Rather than focusing on the technical sides of the game, we told the Icelandic football story as a cultural phenomenon, with an angle that could appeal to sport fans but also to the general public, in Italy and worldwide.
‘The First Time’ is a reportage conceived and realized by photographer Matteo de Mayda and journalist Cosimo Bizzarri that immortalizes Iceland and its citizens as they prepare to what is perhaps the largest sport event of their history.

In Iceland, football is the second most popular sport among women after team gymnastics. Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, 2018
In Iceland, football is the second most popular sport among women after team gymnastics. Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, 2018
The indoor field of Hamar, the team of the town of Hveragerdi: "Since the 2000s, the technique of Icelandic players has improved significantly thanks to the indoor courts. It's a kind of community center, open 24 hours a day and managed independently by the people of the neighborhood Hveragerdi, Iceland, 2018
When the weather it’s bad, up to 200 children at the same time train on the indoor Breidablik field. Kópavogur, Iceland, 2018
Akranesvöllur Stadium Akranes, Iceland, 2018
Borgarnes is a town located on a peninsula at the shore of Borgarfjörður in Iceland and is the largest town in the Borgarbyggð municipality with a population of about 3750 residents. Borgarnes, Iceland, 2018
The IBV stadium is in Heimaey, an island of four thousand inhabitants in the Vestman archipelago. Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, 2018.
Futsal field in Heimaey. The federation has built about 150 throughout the country to push people to play. Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, 2018
The IBV stadium in Heimaey, among the 20 most beautiful stadiums in the world. Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, 2018
Hákon Freyr Waage, 36, an active member of the Silver Spoon, the Stjarnan fan club. From here comes the Viking applause (geyser sound) that made Iceland fans famous all over the world. Reykjavík, Iceland, 2018