The Shortest History of Football

by Brian D. Bunk

The Shortest History of Football takes readers on an epic journey from the game's humble origins to its place today at the pinnacle of global popular culture.
From the muddy trenches of Flanders to the stadium-palaces of Saudi Arabia, from the ancient Mayans to Leo Messi, from the first recorded women's football match to today's Lionesses, this is a concise yet comprehensive history of the world's best-loved and most influential sport.
For history buffs and football fans alike, here is the perfect literary companion to the 2026 World Cup.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, History, Soccer

278 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 20, 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.

[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.

[Priyanka · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I appreciate some of the information in this book, it wasn’t presented in the best way and none of the chapters flowed well. I think it needed several rounds of editing before it hit the shelves.

[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..