The World Cup Explained: Understanding Soccer, Global Passion, Legendary Players, and the 2026 Tournament (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798180757838)

The World Cup is coming to North America. This book explains why it matters.

In 2026, the FIFA World Cup will become the largest tournament in soccer history: 48 national teams, 104 matches, 16 host cities, and three host nations - the United States, Mexico, and Canada. For millions of American fans, this will be the perfect moment to understand the world's most popular sport at its highest emotional level.

The World Cup Explained is a clear, engaging, and accessible guide for readers who want to understand soccer, the World Cup, and the global passion behind the game.

Written especially for American sports fans and curious newcomers, this book explains the rules, rhythms, traditions, rivalries, legendary players, national teams, fan cultures, stadiums, and unforgettable moments that make the World Cup unlike any other sporting event on Earth.

Inside, readers will discover:

How soccer works, from the clock and offside rule to penalties, extra time, substitutions, tactics, and tournament formats.

Why low-scoring matches can still create extraordinary drama.

How the 2026 World Cup will work, including its expanded 48-team format and North American host cities.

The greatest World Cup moments, from Pelé and Maradona to Messi, Mbappé, Brazil, Argentina, France, Germany, England, and beyond.

The stories behind soccer's most influential nations, leagues, stadiums, rivalries, and fan cultures.

How to watch, follow, attend, and fully experience the 2026 World Cup.

This is not a technical coaching manual or a statistics encyclopedia. It is a cultural and practical guide to understanding the sport that moves billions of people.

Whether you are a lifelong soccer fan, a casual viewer, a parent of a young player, a traveler planning to attend matches, or an American sports fan preparing for the 2026 tournament, this book will help you see the World Cup not just as a competition, but as a global event filled with history, emotion, identity, and unforgettable drama.

The world is coming to North America in 2026. This book helps you understand what everyone will be watching.