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The Game of Their Lives: The Untold Story of the World Cup's Biggest Upset – America's Stunning 1950 Soccer Victory Over England
In the summer of 1950, a most unlikely group was assembled to represent its country in the first soccer World Cup since World War II. The Americans were outsiders to the sport, the underdogs of the event, a 500-to-1 long shot. But they were also proud and loyal men -- to one another, to their communities, and certainly to their country. Facing almost no time to prepare, opponents with superior training, and skepticism from the rest of the world, this ragtag group of unknowns was inspired to a stunning victory over England and one of the most thrilling upsets in the history of sports. Written by critically acclaimed author Geoffrey Douglas , and now a film directed by David Anspaugh ( Hoosiers ), The Game of Their Lives takes us back to a time before million-dollar contracts and commercial endorsements, and introduces us to the athletes -- the Americans -- who showed the world just how far a long shot could really go.
146 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1996
10 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Geoffrey Douglas
12 books29 followersGeoffrey Douglas is the author of six books --five of nonfiction and one novel--and more than 100 magazine pieces, many of them widely anthologized. A former reporter, editor, columnist, and adjunct professor of creative writing at the University of Massachusetts, he has been a fellow at the Bread Loaf Writers Conference and a writer-in-residence at several schools and universities.
His most recent work, "Love in a Dark Place" (2025), described by Kirkus Reviews as "a moving, unflinching novel about human depravity and the way love can coexist in its menacing presence," is set in 1980s Atlantic City, where Douglas worked at the time as editor of an investigative weekly.
Other books include two widely-reviewed memoirs -- "Class" (1992) and “The Classmates" (2008) -- as well as "The Game of Their Lives “ (1996), an account of the 1950 U.S. World Cup soccer team and the immigrant men who composed it, adapted as a 2005 movie of the same name. His fifth book, “The Grifter, The Poet, and The Runaway Train: Stories From a Yankee Writer’s Notebook" (2019), is a compilation of his stories in Yankee, written over 20 years.
His most recent work, "Love in a Dark Place" (2025), described by Kirkus Reviews as "a moving, unflinching novel about human depravity and the way love can coexist in its menacing presence," is set in 1980s Atlantic City, where Douglas worked at the time as editor of an investigative weekly.
Other books include two widely-reviewed memoirs -- "Class" (1992) and “The Classmates" (2008) -- as well as "The Game of Their Lives “ (1996), an account of the 1950 U.S. World Cup soccer team and the immigrant men who composed it, adapted as a 2005 movie of the same name. His fifth book, “The Grifter, The Poet, and The Runaway Train: Stories From a Yankee Writer’s Notebook" (2019), is a compilation of his stories in Yankee, written over 20 years.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 17, 2021
It was a good homage to the remaining members of the team, as well as the families of those involved. But there are a lot of upsets in football, it's a game of defying expectation and unsucessful teams that shock the world. Had they progressed any further than the group stages, sure they would have been aplauded. But this was one win, one in a single world cup. Against a team that didn't make it to the latter stages either.
So instead, the author goes deep into the origins of The Hill in Saint Louis. Other members of the team do not get the same background, only briefly do they GLANCE over a mysterious murder and the life of a Haitian immigrant on the team. The book phased out after the study of life on The Hill. Would recommend owning this if your distant relative did not live to tell the tale of the world cup upset. Or if you want to read something so nostalgic for the days when kids played outside and the depression made everything a 'frugal lifestyle' while ignoring the many issues with being an immigrant, or being alive during the depression when so many were starving and struggling. Not that I'm one to skit the nostalgia for playing outdoors.
Had the same attention been shown to every member of this team, and not published as a half finished homage to these men, I would have thoroughly enjoyed this book. Three stars because, I did enjoy nostalgia to some degree for sure.
So instead, the author goes deep into the origins of The Hill in Saint Louis. Other members of the team do not get the same background, only briefly do they GLANCE over a mysterious murder and the life of a Haitian immigrant on the team. The book phased out after the study of life on The Hill. Would recommend owning this if your distant relative did not live to tell the tale of the world cup upset. Or if you want to read something so nostalgic for the days when kids played outside and the depression made everything a 'frugal lifestyle' while ignoring the many issues with being an immigrant, or being alive during the depression when so many were starving and struggling. Not that I'm one to skit the nostalgia for playing outdoors.
Had the same attention been shown to every member of this team, and not published as a half finished homage to these men, I would have thoroughly enjoyed this book. Three stars because, I did enjoy nostalgia to some degree for sure.
December 25, 2022
This isn't just a book about a soccer game... it's a book about the Italian immigrant communities in places like St. Louis in the early 20th century, and what happened to them. It's a snapshot of what professional soccer was like in the 1940s, when the players worked at a factory and got extra money for playing for the factory team on the weekends (these were players that played on the US men's World Cup team at the time).
It's incredible to realize that after this amazing upset over England in the 1950 World Cup, it would take another four decades for the U.S. to even qualify for the competition (1990 World Cup), let alone pull off such a huge victory in international soccer. A slender book that can be read in a few hours, this is highly recommended for any fan of U.S. soccer or World Cup history!
It's incredible to realize that after this amazing upset over England in the 1950 World Cup, it would take another four decades for the U.S. to even qualify for the competition (1990 World Cup), let alone pull off such a huge victory in international soccer. A slender book that can be read in a few hours, this is highly recommended for any fan of U.S. soccer or World Cup history!
January 19, 2025
This was a great read…. Focus is more on the lives and history of the players than the game but I really enjoyed it. A lot of great background about the early 1900s immigrant experience in the US and how it inadvertently created a soccer team that’d defeat the mighty British!
May 22, 2023
An enjoyable light read, but probably only for diehard fans with an interest in soccer and learning more about the key players in one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history...
March 7, 2014
With the World Cup in Brazil rapidly approaching, it seems appropriate to look back at one of the most notorious stories from the previous time Brazil hosted the World’s party in 1950. The biggest upset for many a tournament occurred in Belo Horizonte when England, playing in their first ever World Cup having not deigned to enter previously, were beaten by a bunch of rag tag part-timers from the United States.
This was an England side containing the cream of the home of football’s wealth of talent at the time, in what was fully expected to be nothing other than an absolute rout. Of course it didn’t turn out that way, and this book explores the characters behind that American success, getting to know the surviving players and telling their life stories hand in hand with the story of that incredible match.
The strength of the book lies most in the telling of those life stories and the background of growing up in the immigrant communities of St Louis in the case of several of the players. The description of the match itself is rather flowery but dramatic because of it. By intertwining the match with the reminiscences we are shown more and more of the players’ stories as they progress through the match. The stories are as interesting as you might expect from such a group; tough times and fun times alike, but the lasting impression is one of hard, tough and proud men.
The only shame is that many of the team had died long before this book was written, meaning their stories are only briefly delved into rather than explored in depth. That’s no criticism since there’s not much the author could have done about that of course, but it’s a shame nevertheless. But those who are interviewed have all talked in depth and they illuminate this book. The goal scorer, Joe Gaetjens, died in rather mysterious circumstances in his native Haiti and was the first of the squad to die. That sadly means the chapter looking at his story is necessarily brief, although there are numerous reminiscences from his team mates particularly in the section dealing with his goal.
As an Englishman, I had known of this national embarrassment of course, but hadn’t known much of the detail. I had assumed correctly that England had dominated but for whatever reason had failed to score. What I hadn’t known was the back story of the underdogs and their incredible achievement. I also hadn’t known of what today would be termed a professional foul on Stan Mortensen when clean through on goal in the closing minutes, but I’ll let that one slide. Despite my own allegiances there is no denying the drama and glory in an underdog winning against all the odds, and this book does that glory justice. Some of the terminology used by the author is slightly odd to a British football fan, with the language of American sports coming through to make things seem less familiar to me, but in a story of an American triumph, that’s surely the way it should be.
England are heading to Belo Horizonte again in the summer of 2014, and will presumably endure much re-telling of this tale of one of England’s worst football moments. On the other hand, the USA are off to Brazil too and will seek inspiration from their predecessors who went to Brazil with the expectation of taking a beating, and came back having shocked the world.
www.thesportsbookreview.com
This was an England side containing the cream of the home of football’s wealth of talent at the time, in what was fully expected to be nothing other than an absolute rout. Of course it didn’t turn out that way, and this book explores the characters behind that American success, getting to know the surviving players and telling their life stories hand in hand with the story of that incredible match.
The strength of the book lies most in the telling of those life stories and the background of growing up in the immigrant communities of St Louis in the case of several of the players. The description of the match itself is rather flowery but dramatic because of it. By intertwining the match with the reminiscences we are shown more and more of the players’ stories as they progress through the match. The stories are as interesting as you might expect from such a group; tough times and fun times alike, but the lasting impression is one of hard, tough and proud men.
The only shame is that many of the team had died long before this book was written, meaning their stories are only briefly delved into rather than explored in depth. That’s no criticism since there’s not much the author could have done about that of course, but it’s a shame nevertheless. But those who are interviewed have all talked in depth and they illuminate this book. The goal scorer, Joe Gaetjens, died in rather mysterious circumstances in his native Haiti and was the first of the squad to die. That sadly means the chapter looking at his story is necessarily brief, although there are numerous reminiscences from his team mates particularly in the section dealing with his goal.
As an Englishman, I had known of this national embarrassment of course, but hadn’t known much of the detail. I had assumed correctly that England had dominated but for whatever reason had failed to score. What I hadn’t known was the back story of the underdogs and their incredible achievement. I also hadn’t known of what today would be termed a professional foul on Stan Mortensen when clean through on goal in the closing minutes, but I’ll let that one slide. Despite my own allegiances there is no denying the drama and glory in an underdog winning against all the odds, and this book does that glory justice. Some of the terminology used by the author is slightly odd to a British football fan, with the language of American sports coming through to make things seem less familiar to me, but in a story of an American triumph, that’s surely the way it should be.
England are heading to Belo Horizonte again in the summer of 2014, and will presumably endure much re-telling of this tale of one of England’s worst football moments. On the other hand, the USA are off to Brazil too and will seek inspiration from their predecessors who went to Brazil with the expectation of taking a beating, and came back having shocked the world.
www.thesportsbookreview.com
June 26, 2024
The story is interesting and tracks a bit like The Boys in the Boat in that the author switches the narrative between the lives of the men on the team and the World Cup game itself. I just found the narrative a bit jarring at times and repetitive at others. I was also distracted by the frequent use of em dashes to create parenthetical comments in the middle of sentences. Having said that, the author clearly put a lot of effort into researching the game and the players, and I'm glad he told their stories.
December 25, 2015
A joy of a book! The 1950 World Cup US victory over England is something of a legend among people who follow national teams.
The general description of that game I had always heard was somewhat snarky - the US had handed out quick passports and fielded a team that was essentially straight from Ellis Island.
Turns out - it is a beautiful and quintessential American story. Many of the players were children or grand-children of immigrants, grew up in ethnic neighborhoods but were fiercely proud Americans.
Writing about the ups and downs of game action is sort of like writing about the grooves of a song. Really really hard to write well. This author pulls it off.
The general description of that game I had always heard was somewhat snarky - the US had handed out quick passports and fielded a team that was essentially straight from Ellis Island.
Turns out - it is a beautiful and quintessential American story. Many of the players were children or grand-children of immigrants, grew up in ethnic neighborhoods but were fiercely proud Americans.
Writing about the ups and downs of game action is sort of like writing about the grooves of a song. Really really hard to write well. This author pulls it off.
November 1, 2023
A story of the glory of the game and also, of its players. It is 1950, they were American, and they were sons of immigrants. It flips from the game to the story of families, how they grew up in a simpler time and their service in WWII. The crowd loved an underdog. An ancient game played since the beginning of time but in the ancient Aztec version the losers lost their heads. Today a less violent game but played with rules, timing and more equipment. Americans were new to the sport. They had little practice and playing to a superior team. It is a story of one of the best upset in sports, let alone soccer.
March 15, 2008
In 1950 the USA beat England 1-0 in a World Cup soccer game. The game is probably regarded as the biggest upset in international soccer history. It is probably a bigger upset than the "Miracle on Ice" at the 1980 Olympics. England was one of the favorites coming into the tournament, and the Americans were amateurs, of whom very little was expected.
The author focuses more on the players and their lives than he does on the game itself. It makes a good read also for people who are not sports fans. For soccer fans, it's a must-read.
The author focuses more on the players and their lives than he does on the game itself. It makes a good read also for people who are not sports fans. For soccer fans, it's a must-read.
April 15, 2009
I picked this after seeing the film (made a couple of years ago.) This is one of the few where I enjoyed the movie more. The movie, for me, has a better flow - introducing the players in their homes/neighborhoods and then following them to the pivotal game and following it through (more linear.) The book jumps back and forth between the game, with it's known outcome, and filling in background of the players. I enjoyed it, but not quite a much.
September 7, 2011
Overall, I liked the book. The subject matter was fascinating. It's hard to believe that with such an upset game, and newspapers around the world talking about it, hardly any American paper even mentioned it. The only thing I found distracting was the author's going back and forth between different players' jobs, current families, and the game itself. I didn't find it to be very effective, and was at times confusing.
July 8, 2018
(2.5) The scenes of the game are interesting but the back-and-forth format doesn’t work. It lends itself to incoherence. For example, there’s a lonnnnng digression on an Italian enclave in St. Louis that produced some of the players. Certainly the neighborhood deserved focus but not that much and certainly not at the behest of learning more about the players who had passed or the other games in the Cup. A reluctant three stars only because the game description is that good.
April 10, 2015
A short,solid but interesting bio covering The 1950 USA football side that beat England at the World Cup. Perhaps too short,more information about the players who passed on would have been good,also the match was described in sometimes confusing American terms. |Some interesting stuffregarding working class life in the USA in the 30s/40s/50s.
April 13, 2017
Great story about the US upset in the World Cup of 1950. The film by the same team that brought you Hoosiers is actually really well done as well but the book gives you more story on each of the players and a real feel for how the game was played back in the day.
Would highly recommend this to any sports fan especially soccer - 146 pages long is a pretty fast read.
Would highly recommend this to any sports fan especially soccer - 146 pages long is a pretty fast read.
February 26, 2018
It's a very sweet, well-meaning book, but I was hoping to read something about the history of US soccer in the lead-up to the game, and instead it was about life in the US in the 1950s. Which is fine! I'm going to pass this along to my grandfather next because I think he'll love it. But it's sold as being entirely about soccer, and that's maybe 50% of the book.
September 27, 2019
If you are really an America soccer fan
If you're a soccer fan you have heard of the 1-0 victory over England in 1950. Douglas puts a life to each name of that group of Americans and puts the game in context for those that followed. I finished the book with a lump in my throat and a swell of pride in my heart. Well done Geoffrey Douglas.
If you're a soccer fan you have heard of the 1-0 victory over England in 1950. Douglas puts a life to each name of that group of Americans and puts the game in context for those that followed. I finished the book with a lump in my throat and a swell of pride in my heart. Well done Geoffrey Douglas.
February 4, 2015
Part retelling of the famous United States upset of England at the 1950 World Cup, and part background of the men involved, this book tells both well, particularly as it paints pictures of life in the U.S in the early 1900s. Recommended for fans of soccer and/or good sports stories.
January 2, 2019
One of the worst sports histories I have ever read. Light on the game and actual history, extremely heavy on off putting nostalgia for the good ole days when family stuck together and churches held people together.
August 10, 2020
Not just a sports book
As a grandson of Italian immigrants from the 1890s I found the background stories almost more interesting than the game itself. This game, this time and these sons of immigrants should not be forgotten. An enjoyable read.
As a grandson of Italian immigrants from the 1890s I found the background stories almost more interesting than the game itself. This game, this time and these sons of immigrants should not be forgotten. An enjoyable read.
October 30, 2007
great sports yarn about the 1950 World cup victory of the US over Britain. Also shows how deep and old the US soccer(football) community really is - as old as the "beautiful game" itself
April 7, 2008
Reading this makes me wonder even more about how football (read soccer) never took America by storm.
January 19, 2010
About as good as it could possibly be. Reminded me at times of "The Boys of Summer," which is very good company to be in.
January 15, 2012
If you love soccer and storytelling you should like this book. Fascinating to read about the lives of some of the team years after their victory over England.
October 30, 2021
A must read for all US Soccer fans!
July 22, 2014
Enjoyable little book--as much about the players as about the soccer. Made me nostalgic for a time I never even knew. And the World Cup has come a long way!
January 6, 2015
A light, easy read about an important time in US Soccer history.
September 28, 2010
A nice, quick story about the US soccer team that unexpectedly beat England in the 1950 World Cup.
October 3, 2018
"The Boys of Summer" meets the world's game. "The Boys of Soccer"?
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews