Conspiracy 58

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Conspiracy 58 (Swedish: Konspiration 58 or KSP58) is the name of a conspiracy theory, founded by the Swedish historian Bror Jacques de Wærn, that claims that the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden didn't really take place as commonly believed, but was staged as a television and radio event between American and Swedish Television, the CIA and FIFA as part of a Cold War strategy. It is claimed that Sweden did not have the economic or technical resources to promote such an event. The main reason for the Americans, according to the theory, was to know if propaganda in television had any influence to viewers and if such methods can be used as political weapons. The location of the event is claimed to be held in Los Angeles, due evidence from footages.

The theory was originally presented in the Swedish mockumentary Conspiracy 58 (last televised November 15, 2003 in SVT2). A lot of evidence, for example analysis of TV-footage and of how the players cast shadows on the field, much like the Apollo moon landing hoax accusations, is presented. It is also claimed that buildings outside the field on footages have never been built in Sweden, and still today, never seen in reality, except in other countries. One picture, which is said to be taken inside the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, depicts cameramen and photographers. Still today, no corporation or broadcaster has confirmed that these newsmen were hired at their company. The fact that there were 50,000 in the audience in Råsunda Stadium, in Stockholm, that paid tickets to watch the final game between Brazil and Sweden, has got a lot of criticism by the following sentence by its current President, Olof Arnell: There are no trust-worthy witnesses! Even though the film is a mockumentary, this conspiracy theory has spread widely. The original intent of the mockumentary was to train the audience in critical thinking about theories presented as fact.

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The greatest sport event in Sweden ever was without a doubt the soccer world cup of 1958. The film Conspiracy'58 is about the people who were there but most of all about the people who claim that it never took place at all.