The FIFA World Cup: A History of the Planet's Biggest Sporting Event

by Clemente A. Lisi

Overview

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 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 FIFA World Cup: A History of the Planet's Biggest Sporting Event, veteran soccer reporter Clemente A. Lisi chronicles the tournament from 1930 to today, including a preview of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 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, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi. In addition, Lisi includes needed, 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, as well as stunning color photography, The FIFA World Cup is the definitive history of this global event.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538156438
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	10/12/2022
Pages:	414
Sales rank:	279,341
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Clemente A. Lisi is a journalism professor at The King’s College in New York City. He 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 senior editor at ABC News. 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.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction ix

Chapter 1 Crossing the Ocean 1

Chapter 2 Brazils Revenge 35

Chapter 3 Swinging Sixties 69

Chapter 4 The Beautiful Game 101

Chapter 5 Maradona's Ascent 147

Chapter 6 Magical Nights 187

Chapter 7 A New Century 247

Chapter 8 European Sweep 291

Chapter 9 Rising Out of the Desert 357

Appendix: World Cup Statistics and Records 371

Bibliography 375

Index 379

About the Author 385

Editorial Reviews

Clemente Lisi's lifelong passion for soccer shines through on every page. The book is a great resource for novice and expert readers alike. The World Cup is the rare sports event that even non-fans can unite around and with this book he has found the back of the net.

Dan Good

The World Cup is unique and, with every succeeding tournament, the task of encompassing its goals and own goals, heroes and villains, magic and muddles becomes ever more of a challenge. Lisi has met that daunting test full-on and with an enthusiasm and love of the game which breathes through every page to render this a worthy addition to the genre.

Keir Radnedge

[A]s the world watches the 2022 World Cup, author Clemente A. Lisi’s The FIFA World Cup goes into detail of each year’s key matches, the changes that have occurred over the years (for example the introduction of the red and yellows cards and the recent use of Video Assistant Referee or VAR) and biographies of some of the game’s GOATs from 1930 to today. This book is both an enjoyable read and a handy reference. Papa Clicker, Herb Marchand, gives it a really strong 4.5 out of 5 clickers.

New York Post

Clemente Lisi's new book, The FIFA World Cup, serves as a wonderful walk down memory lane for fans of the beautiful game's biggest event. Lisi fell in love with the World Cup watching the '82 tournament at his grandmother's apartment in Italy. I fell in love with the World Cup that same summer watching the epic Germany-France semifinal shootout with my grandparents in Germany. Millions of us have similar stories to tell. Lisi's passion for the World Cup comes shining through in his well-researched, entertaining book, perfect for both die-hards and casual fans alike.

Andy Clayton

Read this book! A masterful, must-read guide full of important well-researched information for those of us who want more history and context to better enjoy and understand the World Cup.

Steven G. Mandis

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, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi. In addition, the author includes needed, objective coverage of off-field controversies such as the FIFA corruption case, making this book the only complete and impartial history of the tournament.

Nation Africa

The FIFA World Cup: A History of the Planet’s Biggest Sporting Event is a book that people with a general interest in football can and should read before future World Cup tournaments.

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