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World Cup Fever: A Soccer Journey in Nine Tournaments
Not yet published
Expected 3 Mar 26The story of how soccer has transformed the world—as seen through nine World Cups—by one of our most talented writers on the sport.
The World Cup is the biggest sporting spectacle on Earth—a chance every four years for the greatest players to win international glory, and a month-long media event that's watched by an audience of billions.
But the tournament has changed beyond recognition since the inaugural event in Montevideo, Uruguay, in July 1930. What was once a semi-professional meeting beset by haphazard play has evolved to become a game of multinational buyouts, dubious ethics, and questionable aims—and the new era of soccer has much to tell us about the globalized world.
Simon Kuper is among the vanishingly small number of writers who have attended every World Cup since 1990. World Cup Dreams is his journey to find the heart of soccer, through the nine tournaments he's experienced first-hand—from watching matches in half-empty stands during Italia 1990 (a tournament that at times felt like a village fete) to witnessing the French triumph at home in 1998; South Africa's national dream in 2010; and the troubling legacy of Qatar in 2022.
Told on the pitch, in the stands, in the pubs, and on the streets, this is the story of how soccer has changed the world
The World Cup is the biggest sporting spectacle on Earth—a chance every four years for the greatest players to win international glory, and a month-long media event that's watched by an audience of billions.
But the tournament has changed beyond recognition since the inaugural event in Montevideo, Uruguay, in July 1930. What was once a semi-professional meeting beset by haphazard play has evolved to become a game of multinational buyouts, dubious ethics, and questionable aims—and the new era of soccer has much to tell us about the globalized world.
Simon Kuper is among the vanishingly small number of writers who have attended every World Cup since 1990. World Cup Dreams is his journey to find the heart of soccer, through the nine tournaments he's experienced first-hand—from watching matches in half-empty stands during Italia 1990 (a tournament that at times felt like a village fete) to witnessing the French triumph at home in 1998; South Africa's national dream in 2010; and the troubling legacy of Qatar in 2022.
Told on the pitch, in the stands, in the pubs, and on the streets, this is the story of how soccer has changed the world
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 3, 2026
47 people want to read
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December 26, 2025
The book was as geopolitical as it was World Cup history but I didn’t mind and I found most of the book enjoyable and it taught me aspects of the countries involved and their role on the World Cup stage.
At times I found the author a bit condescending and quite anti west/white etc but maybe I was thinking too deeply about some of his comments
All in all I think the book was deeply researched, written passionately and well worth reading. Would definitely recommend this book especially to football fans with an interest in wider topics.
At times I found the author a bit condescending and quite anti west/white etc but maybe I was thinking too deeply about some of his comments
All in all I think the book was deeply researched, written passionately and well worth reading. Would definitely recommend this book especially to football fans with an interest in wider topics.
Displaying 1 of 1 review