Not sure who to root for in the 2018 FIFA World Cup? With the United States team not part of the action, we’ve seen various suggestions about how to pick your favorite team, from skill level and likelihood of winning, to coolest jersey or catchiest nickname.

We have another idea. Let’s reprise the Literary World Cup and celebrate literature from the competing countries as their teams play for the Cup! Group A could see a match between Naguib Mahfouz (EGY) and Leo Tolstoy (RUS), Javier Marías (ESP) might go up against José Saramago (POR) in Group B, Liane Moriarty (AUS) could take the field against Daniel Alarcón (PER) in Group C, and so forth. What literary matches would you make?

These lists are not intended to be exhaustive or definitive. We simply want to suggest some international authors and get in the World Cup spirit. We’ve tried to include authors whose work is available in English translation at the Library, which means there are more writers listed for some countries than for others. Because there are so many authors to choose from in some countries, you might not see your favorite author from England, France, or Russia, for instance. 

Recommendations for additions to the team lists are always welcome—please submit yours in the comments below! 

The NYPL Belmont Branch has started posting matches on Twitter under the hashtag #LiteraryWorldCup. Hat tip to the Los Angeles Public Library for inaugurating the tournament in 2014. 

Allez! Forza! Vamos! Los! Davai! And please share your international reading recommendations in the comments. 

Literary World Cup Group A

Literary World Cup Group B

Literary World Cup Group C

Literary World Cup Group D

Literary World Cup Group E

Literary World Cup Group F

Literary World Cup Group G

Group H