Places

Two goals from Lionel Messi and one from Sergio Busquets saw Barcelona defeat Las Palmas 3-0 on Sunday to maintain their perfect record in league play after seven matches.

EA Sports will release its flagship football game next week, but we got a sneak peak at some of the FIFA 18 stadiums that will be included in the new edition — including four brand new to the game — and they are absolutely breathtaking.

Ah, the modern stadium. As the governor of St. Louis so eloquently put it, “welfare for millionaires.” In place of standing-room only paddocks exposed to inclement weather, we now have free universal wi-fi, luxury suites that place you next to the players and concession prices that’ll cause your rent check to bounce.

Fan-tastic. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Some features of modern stadiums are simply breathtaking or incredibly well-reasoned. Alas, some older grounds also boast truly unique features that make them a cut above the rest of the cookies. 

In a recent New York Times article by Andrew Keh, the writer delved into the strange but fascinating world of Finnish sports. One famous event Keh chronicled is the Swamp Soccer World Championships, a 20-year-old competition that now draws more than 2,000 people annually.