1
of
1
The World Cup
A History of the Planet's Biggest Sporting Event, 2026 Edition
Brief Description
The ultimate history of the World Cup Every four years, the world’s best national soccer teams compete for the World Cup. Billions of people tune in from around the world to experience the remarkable games unfolding live. From Diego Maradona’s first goal against England at the...
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$4399
Unit price
/
Unavailable
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER
Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks
Found a better price? Request a price match
The World Cup
$4399
Unit price
/
Unavailable
A deep-dive history of the World Cup, featuring vivid accounts of games, the innovations that shaped the sport, and the biggest football stars—now updated for the 2026 tournament.
A deep-dive history of the World Cup, featuring vivid accounts of games, the innovations that shaped the sport, and the biggest football stars—now updated for the 2026 tournament.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
The ultimate history of the World Cup
Every four years, the world’s best national soccer teams compete for the World Cup. Billions of people tune in from around the world to experience the remarkable games unfolding live. From Diego Maradona’s first goal against England at the 1986 World Cup to Nelson Mandela’s surprise appearance at the 2010 final in South Africa, these unforgettable World Cup moments have helped to create a global phenomenon.
In The World Cup: A History of the Planet's Biggest Sporting Event, 2026 Edition, veteran soccer reporter Clemente A. Lisi chronicles the tournament from 1930 to today, including a preview of the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Lisi provides vivid accounts of individual games, details the innovations that impacted the sport across the decades, and offers biographical sketches of greats such as Pelé, Maradona, and Lionel Messi. In addition, Lisi includes objective coverage of off-field controversies such as the FIFA corruption case, making this book the only complete and impartial history of the tournament.
Featuring personal interviews and behind-the-scenes stories from the author’s many years attending and covering the World Cup, The World Cup is the definitive history of this global event.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9798216275275
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 28 May 2026
Country: United States
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
Illustration: 30 bw photos, 9 textboxes
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 152.0mm
Height: 229.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 416
Collections
About the Author
Clemente A. Lisi has worked as a journalist and editor for more than two decades. In that time, he has been an editor at major metropolitan dailies such as the New York Post and the New York Daily News and served as a senior editor at ABCNews.com. He is the author of The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team: An American Success Story, A History of the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team, and all editions of A History of the World Cup. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Also by Clemente A. Lisi
View all-
The FIFA World Cup
The first complete history of the FIFA World Cup with a preview of the 2022 event in Qatar. Every four years, the world’s best national soccer teams compete for the FIFA World Cup. Billions of people tune in from around the world to experience the remarkable events unfolding live, both on and off the field. From Diego Maradona’s first goal...Hardback$7190Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks
More from Sports
View all-
Formula One 2026
The world's bestselling Grand Prix handbook is back for the new season. This is the definitive guide to Formula One 2026 — a complete examination of all the teams, drivers, and tracks featured in the packed Grand Prix calendar. Also including a full review of the 2025 season and a breakdown of the new rules and regulations for 2026, this...Paperback$3800Elsewhere:$4499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Legends and Soles
The brilliant autobiography from the ‘saviour of Nike’ If you’re a sneaker head, you know him as the saviour of Nike. If you’ve watched Air, you saw Matt Damon’s portrayal of the man who discovered Michael Jordan and how he revolutionised the payment structure of endorsements for athletes. Legends and Soles tells Sonny’s story – his blind-sided firing by Nike...Paperback$3200Elsewhere:$3999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Surviving to Drive
A hugely entertaining access-all-areas account of a year inside Formula 1, from Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner, star of Drive to Survive, one of the most successful Netflix series of all time. THE INSTANT NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Gripping to read. Funny, real, exciting. It's a brilliant book.' - Chris Evans 'Fearless and candid... A gleeful guide to...Paperback$2400Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Good, the Bad & the Rugby – Unleashed
The long-awaited book from rugby stars Alex Payne, James Haskell and Mike Tindall. Rugby megastars James Haskell, Mike Tindall, and Alex Payne get together to discuss the highs and lows of their podcast, friendship, and rugby. Among the key questions answered: What happened when Mike took their shambles of a podcast inside the walls of Windsor Castle to meet the...Hardback$5500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Gloves Off
The unflinching autobiography from the two-time world heavyweight champion and British People's Champion, Tyson Fury, now out in paperback, Gloves Off is an enthralling journey into the life of one of boxing's most charismatic and controversial figures. From his humble beginnings to his meteoric rise and dramatic falls, Fury’s story is a testament to the indomitable human spirit. In this...Paperback$2800Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Salt Path
The Salt Path is a deeply moving and profoundly inspiring true story that captures the essence of human resilience and the profound impact of nature on our well-being. This compelling narrative, a Sunday Times bestseller and shortlisted for the prestigious Wainwright Prize, recounts the life-changing journey of Raynor and Moth Winn—a couple who, facing monumental life challenges, find solace and...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2600Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Salt Path
The bestselling true story of the couple who lost everything and embarked on a journey not of escape but salvation, soon to be a major motion picture starring Golden Globe winning Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs. Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years, is terminally ill, the couple lose their home and their livelihood. With...Paperback$2700Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
States of Play
The International Bestseller & Winner of the Football Book of the Year Award A Times Sports Book of the Year A Telegraph Book of the Year An Irish Times Book of the Year An Irish Independent Book of the Year 'Important, perfectly timed and hugely necessary.' The Guardian 'A monumental piece of investigative journalism.' Irish Times 'A must-read on how...Paperback$2999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Pre-orderThe Swimmer of Auschwitz
'Propulsive... Readers will be hooked' - Publishers Weekly Based on the extraordinary true story of Alfred Nakache, subject of the Oscar-nominated short film Papillon. Alfred Nakache, a Jewish child from Constantine, never imagined that he would one day swim for France at the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936, nor that he would achieve a world record, as he did...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableOut 11 Aug 2026Pre-order -
The Formula
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 'HANDS DOWN THE GREATEST BOOK EVER WRITTEN ABOUT F1.' - Sam Walker, author of The Captain Class 'MODERN F1 IS THE SPORTS STORY OF THIS ERA AND NO ONE COULD TELL IT BETTER' - Kevin Clark, ESPN 'THE FASTEST READ YOU WILL EVER PICK UP' - A.J. Baime, author of Go Like Hell F1 is...Paperback$2600Elsewhere:$2999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Breath
Discover the transformative power of breathing in Breath by esteemed journalist James Nestor. This revolutionary book delves into the science and history of one of the most fundamental human activities - breathing. From the bustling streets of São Paulo to the serene temples of India, Nestor embarks on a global journey to uncover the secrets of ancient breathing techniques such...Paperback$2100Elsewhere:$2600Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Forever Forward
With a foreword by McLaren CEO Zak Brown and written with inside access, this is the real-time, unfolding story of one of F1's greatest ever teams, as they rise back up from oblivion. Few names in motorsports carry the same authority as McLaren, and with their remarkable victory in the 2024 constructors championship, they are now returning to form in...Hardback$4000Elsewhere:$6000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
