Illustrations celebrating “weird and hilarious” moments from previous World Cups

Weird World Cup is a project that sees 20 illustrators create humorous artworks, which will be sold online to raise money for education charity Football Beyond Borders.

 

By Bratislav Milenkovic

Designers have teamed up with education charity Football Beyond Borders (FBB) to launch a new creative project in time for the World Cup.

Gordon Reid, founder at studio Middle Boop, and graphic designer Callum Stephenson have commissioned 20 designers and illustrators to create beer mats based on their favourite sporting moments from past World Cups.

The beer mats will be sold online and will go on display in pubs around London to raise money for FBB, which helps young people who are disengaged at school learn through a football-themed curriculum.

“Weird and surreal moments”

Reid says: “I thought there have been so many weird and surreal moments in the World Cup over the years, these crazy things that go down in history that people forget about after a bit but are the talk of the town for the months of the World Cup… it is celebrating the hilarious moments.”

Contributors to the campaign include Craig Oldham, Hey Studio and Leta and Wade.

“We have a really nice mix of either completely iconic moments in history like [David] Beckham being sent off, to little niche things such as a piece by [illustrator] Ben Tallon, who found it hilarious that when Roy Keane got sent home, the next day he would be filmed walking his dog looking really annoyed,” Reid says.

“A vast spectrum” of styles

He was keen for “as vast a spectrum as possible” of different styles. “We’ve had type-based pieces from the likes of Sarah Boris, three-dimensional renders from [Radim Malinic], we’ve had illustrations – I really wanted to have a blend,” Reid adds.

Designs also include a piece from the Yarza Twins, whose image depicts Diego Maradona’s infamous 1986 “Hand of God” goal in a graphic, pop-art style.

The design features a red, yellow and blue outlined image of two footballers reaching up for a ball, set over the words “La Mano De Dios” in large, clean lettering on a black background.

Money will fund a new space in Brixton

Alongside selling the illustrated beer mats online, Reid is also hoping to get a sponsor on board. Money raised will go to FBB.

This will help the charity fund a new multi-purpose space on the Angell Town Estate in Brixton, South London, which will include an office, a learning hub and football pitch and a safe space for young people in the area who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

To see the submissions or buy the artworks, head here.

By Raj Dhunna
By Yarza Twins
Radim Malinic
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