Must Read Books About the World Cup

It is estimated that 3.4 billion viewers worldwide watched the 2018 World Cup, and it really comes as no surprise. Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world, and the World Cup is a quadrennial matchup where countries come together to compete for the title of best international soccer team in men’s soccer. Books about the World Cup have been written to commemorate this historical event, give knowledge on how it all works, and inspire fans and novices alike to get involved in the camaraderie that the World Cup can create. If you’re looking for a soccer book to read, these books are excellent choices.

The World Cup: The Complete History by Terry Crouch and James Corbett is an encyclopedia of sorts for the World Cup. It gives every detail you can imagine, including every competition within the event, every result of every match ever played, the players on every team, and beyond. This is a great book for soccer fans because it will be your ultimate source for the nitty gritty statistics and details.

The Mammoth Book of the World Cup by Nick Holt is an all-inclusive guide to this internationally known event, and it is one of the best books about the World Cup you can find on the market. In this book, Holt explains the FIFA World Cup from its historic roots in Uruguay in 1930 all the way to current day. It also covers what happens with the fans on the sidelines who are drinking, singing, and dancing their way through each game all the way to the World Cup finals, including the feared soccer hooligan gangs that have gained notoriety.

The Fall of the House of FIFA by David Conn is a very insightful book about the house of FIFA scandal, which happened in 2015 when FIFA was accused of bribes, money laundering, and tax evasion. It seemed that global soccer was corrupted all the way down to its core. If you’re a soccer fan, this is a must read because it will give you the inside scoop on what happened and how this scandal has affected soccer and its future.

Red Card by Ken Bensinger is another book written about the FIFA scandal in 2015. In this book, Bensinger explains the history of FIFA corruption, how the scandal was going on for over 20 years—long before the IRS got involved. Then, the scandal exploded and became a worldwide phenomenon where not even the World Cup could evade the consequences. This book explains the unfortunate true story of white-collar crime that weaved a web into the world of soccer.

Touched by God, written by Diego Maradona and Daniel Arcucci, is one of the best books about the World Cup of 1986, which featured Argentina and Mexico in the champions league final game. Maradona played for Argentina, and he tells his personal story of his team’s road to victory, which was an extremely hard-won battle. Though teir captain quit the day before the tournament, it ended in the ultimate victory. Maradona’s meaningful role in this World Cup tournament is still remembered today by soccer fans worldwide.

In World Cup Fever, Stephen Rea details every detail of the monumental soccer event through the 2018 FIFA World Cup. This 2018 World Cup edition will have fans everywhere flipping through to read about the best stories of the World Cup’s past, including every team, dramatic upset in the World Cup, and goal scored. This book is for any diehard fan whose world revolves around the game of soccer.

The World Cup 2018 Book by Shane Stay was written as a precursor to the 2018 World Cup. It gives a guide for all fans interested in the 2018 Russia event. Stay discusses which teams would play. The United States as well as Germany, Spain, and France are all fan favorites, but there was no telling what wildcards would be thrown in. All of these books will surely be updated soon for the next World Cup to come, however, they are still excellent reads because they give so much information on current players, past statistics, and historical anecdotes.

Soccernomics 2018 World Cup Edition by Simon Kuper is one of the best books about the World Cup, and it was even named one of the best books of the year by many notable news sources. This book looks at soccer from a more analytical standpoint and suggests specific reasons why certain countries such as Spain and France win more often than other countries. This book is an international bestseller, and it is definitely worth a read for soccer fans who want to gain more knowledge on the World Cup and the sport as a whole.

In The Language of the Game, Laurent Dubois talks about soccer on a global scale, which is a great introductory read for those wanting to understand the World Cup. Dubois not only discusses the basics of the soccer positioning, language, and rules, but she explains how soccer is a sport with immense global reach. Because soccer is so popular worldwide, it connects humans all over the world and creates nationalism within countries. However, it can also cause conflict as well.

The Story of the World Cup by Brian Glanville is a must read for soccer fanatics because Glanville celebrates the game, the players, and the fans all the way from the beginning of the event in Uruguay 1930 up until present day. This book was recently updated to prepare for the 2018 World Cup, and it uses vivid stories and anecdotes to tell a historical and factual tale that fans will love.

All of these books about the World Cup will have novices, players, and fans alike ready to watch the game of soccer, whether it’s the World Cup or a local game. Soccer brings people together, and with the knowledge these authors offer about the sport, you’ll be even more excited to show your team spirit.