The Power and the Glory : A New History of the World Cup

The football World Cup is the most watched sporting event on the planet, a global obsession that has captivated 211 nations and run for nearly a century. Yet until now, there has never been a truly comprehensive history that weaves together the matches and goals, the players and coaches, the tales of scandal and genius, alongside the political intrigue and bidding processes that shape each tournament. This definitive history places the World Cup within a socio-political framework, revealing how the tournament's story is inseparable from the story of the world itself. From the elegant prose of a master storyteller, discover how football's greatest competition has evolved, influenced nations, and captured the imagination of billions. Praised for its breathtaking detail and compulsively entertaining narrative, this is the authoritative account of the World Cup like no other.