World Cup Fever: A Soccer Journey in Nine Tournaments

This unique blend of reportage and memoir from journalist Kuper (Soccernomics) documents the impact and history of the FIFA World Cup. Having attended every World Cup since 1990, Kuper traces the international soccer tournament as it grew into a massive global spectacle, arguing along the way that “World Cups don’t change the world, but they do illuminate it.” The first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930 under the direction of FIFA president Jules Rimet, who wanted to create a standalone international tournament for professional players. Kuper’s coverage of World Cups in Italy, France, Japan, South Korea, and Germany in the 1990s and early 2000s mixes game recaps with personal observations, including that “in nine World Cups, I still haven’t seen a single act of fan violence.” Elsewhere, he presents a deep history of soccer in South Africa, where his family is from, contending that the 2010 World Cup, which was held there, highlighted a white version of South Africa instead of the Black community “where the country’s football culture originated.” Moving to more recent tournaments, Kuper details evidence that Russia and Qatar bribed FIFA Executive Committee members to host the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. Throughout, Kuper blends scrupulous reportage with evocative reflections (“a national team was the nation made flesh”). Soccer fans will be enthralled. (Mar.)