World Cup Fever: A Footballing Journey in Nine Tournaments - Paperback

The definitive story of football's greatest spectacle—from the bestselling author and acclaimed sportswriter Simon Kuper.

It's the biggest competition on Earth.

Every four years, the world's greatest footballers chase the game's ultimate dream. For fans, it is a month-long carnival of unforgettable goals, national hopes, extraordinary heroes and heartbreak—all watched by billions around the world.

But the World Cup has changed dramatically since its early days, when players were semi-professionals and even the trophy itself once went missing.

Today, it is a vast global spectacle shaped by corporate power, enormous money and difficult questions about politics, ethics and the business of football.

In World Cup Fever, bestselling author Simon Kuper looks back at every tournament since Italia '90, combining football, history, culture and politics to tell the story of how the modern World Cup came to be.

From the joy and chaos of the football carnival to the darker realities behind the global spectacle, Kuper offers an entertaining and compelling portrait of the world's most famous sporting event—and the remarkable power it has to touch, unite and sometimes even change our lives.

An essential read for football fans and anyone fascinated by the drama, history and global impact of the beautiful game.