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

The Power and the Glory: The History of the World Cup - Hardcover

$35.00
$35.00
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The Power and the Glory: The History of the World Cup
  • The Power and the Glory: The History of the World Cup
The Power and the Glory: The History of the World Cup - Hardcover

The Power and the Glory: The History of the World Cup - Hardcover

by Jonathan Wilson
$35.00
$35.00

Book Overview

A definitive new history of the world's most watched sporting event--just in time for the 2026 tournament​

"Wilson is the game's pre-eminent popular historian."--Observer (UK)

An Irish Times Best Sports Book of the Year

Since 1930, the World Cup has become a truly global obsession. It is the most watched sporting event on the planet, and 211 teams competed to make it into the 2022 tournament. From its inception, it has also been a vehicle for far more than soccer. A tool for self-mythologizing and influence-peddling, The World Cup has played a crucial role in nation-building, and continues to, as countries negotiate their positions in a globalized world.

The Power and the Glory is a comprehensive history of the matches and goals, the tales of scandal and triumph, the haggling and skulduggery of the bidding process, and the political and cultural tides behind every tournament. Jonathan Wilson details not merely what happened but why, based on fresh interviews and meticulous research. The book is as much about the legends of the sport, from Pelé to Messi, as it is about the nations that made them, from Mussolini's Italy to partitioned Germany to controversy-ridden Qatar.

Brimming with politics, heart, and drama, on and off the pitch, The Power and the Glory is the definitive story of the greatest cultural event of our time.
ISBN9781645030409
Author Jonathan Wilson
PublisherBold Type Books
GenreHistory and Sports
FormatHardcover
PublishedOctober 2025
LanguageENG- English
Pages576
Weight1.0 lb
Target AudienceAdults
Print SizeStandard Print

Related Subjects

History Nonfiction Sports & Recreation

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More by Jonathan Wilson

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

The Power and the Glory: The History of the World Cup - Hardcover

The Power and the Glory: The History of the World Cup - Hardcover

By Jonathan Wilson

About Jonathan Wilson

Jonathan Wilson is a columnist for The Guardian and the cohost of the football history podcast It Was What It Was. He has written thirteen books, including Inverting the Pyramid, and is the founder and editor of The Blizzard. He lives in London.

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