The Shortest History of Soccer: From Ancient Kicking Games to the World's Most Popular Sport

by Brian D. Bunk

For sports fans and history buffs alike and just in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, this accessible guide to the evolution of soccer—from ancient traditions to sold-out stadiums—shows just how much influence on politics, economics, and popular culture one sport can have


In 2026, the FIFA World Cup will return to North America for the first time since 1994, bringing the world’s most watched sporting event to a nation of people more obsessed with soccer than ever before. With the proliferation of Emmy-winning television series set in and around the world of soccer—like Ted Lasso and Welcome to Wrexham—and the celebrity ownership of teams by everyone from Ryan Reynolds to Elton John, soccer has skyrocketed in its international appeal. How did this game go from an upper-class pastime to one of the world’s most inclusive, commercial, and political sports?


Sports historian Brian D. Bunk takes readers on a journey from soccer’s humble roots in nineteenth-century England to its meteoric rise in popular culture, tracing the game through time and space. Drawing on key historical and contemporary events, from World Cup boycotts to fights on the pitch, Bunk crafts a concise yet comprehensive history of the sport as an influence that continues to be felt around the world. The Shortest History of Soccer provides a helpful compendium for history buffs and soccer fans alike, helping to shape our perception of economics, politics, and the kind of indescribable camaraderie that only sports can provide.



The Shortest History books deliver thousands of years of history in one riveting, fast-paced read.

Genres: Sports, History, Nonfiction, Soccer

Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2026

Reviews

[Miles Tupikowska · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book attempts to cover too much in too few pages. The topics covered read well enough, however there is a lot of repetition of the same topics throughout which gets a bit annoying at a point (makes me think AI was used?). A lot of important events and people also get missed out, but for what the book aims to do, it does a decent enough job.

[Jacqueline Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felt appropriate ⚽️🌎

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it because the world cup was going on. Interesting enough for a subject I have little interest in.

[Reader Joseph D’Addio · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first when I saw this book first announced on The Experiment’s website, I almost laughed. What’s next Chess?! There are a LOT more sports than just Soccer and I know this even as the Black Sheep among my rather athletic family. Despite still that Soccer was the only serious sport I had ever played as a kid, being a member of Team “Mercury” with my number being 9. Then I realized it was because Football to this day remains the most popular sport on our planet. True here in the US we have our best athletes competing in our own nationally contained pastimes such as, ironically enough, another sport called “Football.” But seeing how this Football has spread even to Africa and South America as well, it truly is an international sport. Although there are archeological records show an almost subconscious human desire to kick a ball, it truly kicked off(no pun intended)with English schoolboys in the late 19th century and then soon enough pubs were sponsoring proto-professional teams. One thing led to another and eventually Football got wrapped up into black markets and even politics following the creation of FIFA that sadly persists to this day. I finished this book before the World Cup of 2026 wrapped up and got to witness history in the making as America hosted this year’s final match during the month of its quarter millennium celebration. Football or “Soccer” politics were very much present as our spectacle-obsessed President attempted to sneak into Spain’s group picture. Trying to distract from recent blows to one’s reputation using this sport is nothing new. The infamous Vladimir Putin tried the same thing following his forceful annexation of Crimea four years earlier during the 2018 World Cup, presenting a “friendly” Russia to the wider world. Some of my favorite fun facts were that Brazil largely adopted the sport on its own as opposed to other countries that were taught directly by immigrants from the British Empire. Another one was that shorter players have the potential to be even quicker than taller players, Messi being the most famous example. That explains that despite being one of the taller members of my team, I got constantly outpaced by boys both on my team and the opposition. Even when I managed to get the ball during the few times I did, it got stolen before I could even realize what happened! Also the charts showing the early playing formations and explanation of the how the rules evolved were helpful as well. Frankly, I think anyone could enjoy this book and learn something new. Because Soccer has carved its way into so many aspects of our world, positive and negative.

[Richard McGeough · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book I’ve read in the “shortest history” series. Any book attempting to cover such a vast subject in a couple of hundred pages is inevitably going to run into tough choices about what to include and what to leave out. So, it would be churlish to reprimand it for overlooking anything specific.

In fact, given how short the book is, it’s admirable how much it attempts to cover. It aims for the widest possible audience: the entire history of the origins, professionalization and commercialization of both the men’s game and the women’s game around the world. In 230 pages.

Naturally, it has to gloss over a lot. But because its reach is so wide, I learned a lot that a book with a narrower focus would miss.

It’s also very easy reading. Suitable for anyone from 9 to 99.

[Blake Passe · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I appreciated the concision and focus on the origins of soccer, this book felt scattered, AI generated, and lacking of sufficient intelligent commentary. I did thoroughly enjoy all the soccer basics I learned as someone who has not connected with the sport to a significant degree in the past.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got a bit boring listing dates of historic "firsts", which can be a danger for any broad history book.

Turned around in the end, and was a good overall picture of the evolution of the sport.

[Hunter Lake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty cool to read about the history. Kind of dragged towards the end

[Mark K.Astley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Its okay, more insightful for a new football fan from North America..