Collections
Stadiums are often remembered for the events they host. Finals opening ceremonies historic matches. But long after those moments pass the stands remain. They become part of everyday life shaped by politics memory identity and routine. Tales of the Stands approaches stadiums from that angle. Not as backdrops to sport but as places where society leaves visible traces.
The stadium stories collections on this page bring together stories that share that perspective. Each one follows a different path through history and geography connecting stadiums across cities, eras and contexts. Some look forward, others reflect back. Together they offer ways to explore the wider world through the stands that once gathered it.
Current Collections
The World Cup 2026 Collection
The World Cup 2026 Collection looks ahead to a tournament unlike any before. It will be staged across three countries and dozens of host cities. Bringing together different political systems urban traditions and football cultures. With more teams than ever the scale of the tournament reflects a shift toward expansion reach and global visibility.
This collection focuses on the stadiums selected for the competition and the cities that surround them. Some venues are newly built others are adapted versions of existing grounds. Each story examines what these stadiums replace what they enable and how they reshape their urban environment. Together they form a portrait of a tournament that mirrors the complexity of the contemporary world.
Stadiums in Conflict
Stadiums in Conflict explores stadiums caught in moments when public life is disrupted by war, occupation or unrest. These venues were built for crowds, rituals and shared emotion. Yet under pressure, their role can change. A place of escape can become a site of control, fear, propaganda or memory.
The stories in this collection look at stadiums across past and present. They trace how grounds have been used, surrounded, damaged, emptied or remembered during conflict. Some became tools of power, others stood as witnesses to communities under pressure. In each case the stands reveal how quickly ordinary places can be pulled into history.
The Olympic Collection
The Olympic Collection explores stadiums built for moments when cities and nations present themselves to the world. These venues were designed as symbols of modern sports. Often carrying tensions around control exclusion and memory.
The stories in this collection look beyond ceremonies and results. They trace how Olympic stadiums were used, reused, abandoned or contested over time. Some became everyday sporting grounds others turned into political landmarks or architectural remnants. In each case the stands outlasted the event and continued to shape the city around them.