What makes a country good at football?

Wealth, size and interest in football explain almost half of countries’ international performance. The rest can be taught

Jun 9th 2018|DAKAR AND MONTEVIDEO

ON A sunny Saturday afternoon, within kicking distance of Uruguay’s national football stadium, 14 seven-year-olds walk onto a bumpy pitch. They are cheered by their parents, who are also the coaches, kit-washers and caterers. The match is one of hundreds played every weekend as part of Baby Football, a national scheme for children aged four to 13. Among the graduates are Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani, two of the world’s best strikers.

This article appeared in the International section of the print edition under the headline “By their bootstraps”