On 13 October, 2025, a new article has been published by László Kiss in Soccer & Society. The title of the article is “From politics to business: Hungarian-African football relations during the Cold War (1955–1989)”.

Abstract:

This study investigates the relatively overlooked phenomenon of Hungarian football coaches being sent to Africa between 1956 and 1989. It examines this practice as a form of sports diplomacy integrated within the broader context of Hungarian foreign and economic policy. Utilizing public sources, archival documents, and press coverage, the article outlines the development of Hungary’s ‘coach export’ programme and its changing geopolitical context. The participation of Hungarian professionals not only aimed to share expertise but also sought to exert influence during the dynamics of the Cold War and the process of decolonization. Football functioned as a tool of soft power, facilitating Hungary’s diplomatic outreach and strengthening ideological connections with emerging nations. However, as Africa’s strategic importance in Hungarian foreign policy declined by the late 1970s, this initiative shifted from being ideologically motivated support to a more pragmatic form of cooperation, highlighting the limitations and changes in socialist sports diplomacy.

 

The article is available here:

Kiss, L. (2025). From politics to business: Hungarian-African football relations during the Cold War (1955–1989). Soccer & Society, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2025.2572667