The First Time in Qatar, North Macedonia, Iceland (2018-ongoing)

The First Time is a long-term project conceived by Matteo de Mayda and Cosimo Bizzarri aimed at exploring football and the way it shapes culture, politics and identity in nations who participate for the first time in a major international tournament.

Rather than focusing on the technical sides of the game, The First Time looks at football as a social phenomenon, with an angle that could appeal to sport fans but also to the general public.

So far, The First Time was produced in Iceland ahead of Russia 2018, to North Macedonia before EURO 2020 and to Qatar ahead the 2022 World Cup.

Each chapters of The First Time works autonomously, but also as part of a large investigation about football in remote countries that we would like to turn into a book and an exhibition.
PUBLICATIONS
The New York Times (USA), The Financial Times Magazine (UK), Rivista Undici (ITA) SoFoot (FRA), Der Spiegel (GER), 6Mois (FRA, British Journal of Photography (UK), Sportweek (ITA), Victory Journal (USA), Creative Review (UK), Libération (FRA) FOCUS Magazin (GER), Aftenposten Innsikt (NOR) L'Obs (FRA), T - Le magazine du Temps (SWI) Les Echos Week-End (FRA) Reporters Without Borders (GER), SHUKYU Magazine (JAP), So Foot (FRA) Internazionale (ITA)

EXHIBITIONS
Museum of Contemporary Photography, Milan (ITA)

Traveling exhibition in North Macedonia organized by the Italian Embassy (MKD)