The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is well under way, we round up our Top 5 books to read during the competition; featuring nostalgic reads on past tournaments, the controversial circumstances in which the 2022 tournament was awarded and a guide to the biggest event in world football.
The Fall of the House of Fifa: How the world of football became corrupt by David Conn
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is perhaps the most controversial tournament there has been and much has been made of the circumstances in which Qatar were awarded the tournament. If you’re looking to understand more about the corruption allegations that have dogged football’s world governing body FIFA in recent years, The Fall of the House of Fifa: How the world of football became corrupt by David Conn is at the time of writing available for just 99p on Kindle.
In the Heat of the Midday Sun: The Indelible Story of the 1986 World Cup by Steven Scragg
Steven Scragg has written a series of fantastic books on the glory years of the three major European club competitions but he turns his attention to the World Cup for In the Heat of the Midday Sun: The Indelible Story of the 1986 World Cup. This book draws some wonderful insight into the tournament hosted in Mexico that is perhaps remembered most for the exploits of Diego Maradona, particularly by England fans for his two infamous goals in their quarter-final match with Argentina.
USA 94: The World Cup That Changed the Game by Matthew Evans
Despite being the most popular sport in the World, the United States of America was always seen as an untapped market that football (or soccer) had yet to crack. The jury is perhaps still out whether the 1994 FIFA World Cup hosted in the country has significantly changed this but with the tournament due to return in 2026, Matthew Evans’ nostalgic look back in USA 94: The World Cup That Changed the Game is a great read.
When Asia Welcomed the World: The 2002 World Cup Revisited by Danny Lewis
It’s now 20 years since the 2002 FIFA World Cup hosted in South Korea and Japan – the first tournament to be held in Asia and the first to be co-hosted. The tournament is fondly remembered for some notable shocks as well as the redemption of the world’s best player at the time, Ronaldo and the story is told by Danny Lewis in When Asia Welcomed the World: The 2002 World Cup Revisited.
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: The Official Guide by Keir Radnedge
Keir Radnedge’s guides to the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship have become a staple over the last 20 years. FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: The Official Guide offers profiles of each of the 32 teams that have qualified, some of the star players that will be taking part, information on the host cities and statistics on past tournaments. Look beyond the flaws (with the book clearly being produced prior to the conclusion of play-off matches in June) as this is the most complete guidebook available to the 2022 tournament.
Last Updated on November 22, 2022 by Sports Tourist
