The Football World Cup is the biggest sporting competition on Earth, a chance every four years for the greatest players to win international glory, and a month-long media spectacle that's watched by an audience of billions.
Since its inception in Montevideo, Uruguay, in July 1930, the tournament has undergone significant transformations. What was once a semi-professional meeting beset by haphazard play has evolved to become a game of multinational buyouts, dubious ethics, and questionable aims. This new era of football has a lot to teach us about our globalised world.
Simon Kuper is among the vanishingly small number of writers who have attended every World Cup since 1990. The World at My Feet is his journey to find the heart of football through the nine tournaments he's experienced firsthand, from watching matches in half-empty stands during Italia 90, a tournament that at times felt like a village fête, to witnessing the French triumph at home in 1998, South Africa's national dream in 2010, and the troubling legacy of Qatar 2022. The story of football's global impact is told in pubs, front rooms, on the streets, and on the pitch.
ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48 Delivered to You 2nd Week, October 2025 Some publishers release new titles early, so our ETA above could change.
Publisher: Great Book Selection – Visit Profile Books
Published 2nd October 2025
Hardback: £17.50, 256 pages
Paperback: £16.99, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1805224107
ISBN-13: 978-1805224105
Why Pre-order?
Since 2022, we've observed that publishers often opt for smaller print runs to manage costs effectively. This process has occasionally resulted in stock shortages. We strongly recommend pre-ordering to secure your copy and avoid disappointment.
