Best soccer books for the 2026 World Cup
Megan McKeough
Soccer Memoirs & Player Stories
Candid, first-hand accounts of competing on the world stage, from soccer legends.
Why Soccer Matters by Pelé
This is Pelé’s legacy, his way of passing on everything he’s learned and inspiring a new generation. In Why Soccer Matters, Pelé details his ambitious goals for the future of the sport and, by extension, the world.Fable reader Izzy: “This book was a great look into the history of Pelé and modern soccer, as well as the political, social, and economic climate of Brazil, USA, and the world throughout his life.”
The Keeper by Tim Howard
In this inspiring, down-to-earth memoir the revered goalkeeper and American icon idolized by millions worldwide for his dependability, daring, and humility recounts his rise to stardom at the 2014 World Cup, the psychological and professional challenges he has faced, and the enduring faith that has sustained him.Fable reader Elizabeth Muncy: "This book was everything I wanted it to be and more! As a huge soccer and Tim Howard fan, it gave the perfect amount of insight into team functioning at Manchester United, Everton and the national team, all while providing a deep and personal glimpse of Tim's life. If you're a sports fan in any capacity, do yourself a favor and read it!!"
One Life by Megan Rapinoe, Emma Brockes
Megan Rapinoe, Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women's World Cup champion, reveals for the first time her life both on and off the field. Guided by her personal journey into social justice, brimming with humor, humanity, and joy, she urges all of us to ask ourselves, What will you do with your one life?Fable reader BookishFam: "I did not know the depth of the social justice battles Rapinoe was trying to take on with the platform she was given. I appreciate her honesty and willingness to share both sides in her stories, especially with hindsight. I'm thankful that there are thoughtful athletes that want to use their gifts to make the world a better place."
How (Not) To Be Strong by Alex Scott
From the football cages of East London to broadcasting to millions, the engine powering Alex Scott's remarkable journey has always been her resilience. In her candid memoir, Alex shares the lessons that have shaped her, from confronting the legacy of a tumultuous childhood to the tarnished truth behind the gleaming football trophies.Fable reader Brianne: "As a black woman in football I can relate to her story and her mindset. I appreciate her vulnerability so much and what she was willing to share. It felt like we were on her journey in real time. I've known about Alex but getting the chance to feel like I know her personally just gave me that much more respect for her."
They Don't Teach This by Eniola Aluko
First class honors law degree. 102 appearances for England women's national football team. First female pundit on Match of the Day. UN Women UK ambassador. Guardian columnist. All of these achievements belong to Eni Aluko, who steps beyond the realms of memoir to explore themes of dual nationality and identity, race and institutional prejudice, success, failure and faith.Fable reader Keziah: “If you’re interested in women’s football - I really enjoyed How (Not) To Be Strong by Alex Scott and They Don’t Teach This by Eniola Aluko who are both former lionesses ⚽️.”
The Striker and the Clock by Georgia Cloepfil
The Striker and the Clock is a beautiful examination of the joy and pain of serious athletics. It’s also an eye-opening look at the still-developing world of professional women’s soccer.Fable reader SChristensen: “Every soccer player and everyone else, needs to read this reflection. Ms. Cloepfil is remarkably eloquent as she reflects on her life playing pro soccer.”
Jamie Vardy: From Nowhere, My Story by Jamie Vardy
An ordinary lad from Sheffield, Jamie Vardy has become known as an against-the-odds footballing hero. From playing pub football and earning £30 a week, he rose to set the record as the first player to score in 11 consecutive Premier League matches — and Leicester beat odds of 5000-1 to become champions.Fable reader Abhishek Prasad: "Truly one of 'the greatest stories ever told'... LCFC's premier league win story will be something that we'll tell our future generations about as the David we all got behind and wanted them to finish off a fairy tale that we only hear about in stories. The world is a dark and cruel place, which makes no sense, always has been and always will be. But during that season, LCFC's story just put a little bit of hope into everyone's heart. Except for Tottenham fans of course..."Soccer Culture, History & Tactics
Nonfiction soccer books that dive into the world’s game on a deeper level, from the sport’s global politics to modern tactics.
Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby
Fever Pitch is Nick Hornby's tribute to a lifelong obsession. Part autobiography, part comedy, part incisive analysis of insanity, this award-winning memoir captures the fever pitch of fandom — its agony and ecstasy, its community, its defining role in thousands of young men's coming-of-age stories.Fable reader Charlie: "Excellent, a must read for the football romantic. I love the way Hornby writes and it's so clear how he lives and breathes Arsenal. Great stuff."
How Soccer Explains the World by Franklin Foer
A groundbreaking work — named one of the five most influential sports books of the decade by Sports Illustrated — How Soccer Explains the World is a unique and brilliantly illuminating work of political journalism that looks at soccer as a lens through which to view the pressing issues of our age, from the clash of civilizations to the global economy.Fable reader S.G. Scales: "A collection of soccer stories, with every chapter giving the reader a different perspective of soccer throughout the world. Foer's wonderful story telling combined with a historian's sense of war events is a must read for historians, political scientist, and sports fanatics alike. Furthermore, the addition in 2006 of a new afterword brings interesting insights to World Cup Winner, their governments and future predictions for World Cups. Leaving this soccer fan even more intrigued for the 2022 and 2026 World Cups."
Revolution by Charles Watts
The definitive inside story of Mikel Arteta's transformation of Arsenal FC — from a club in disarray to genuine Premier League title contenders. Charles Watts charts the revolution that has captivated English football.Fable reader Gnasher81: “Really enjoyed the journey and stirring up some great memories! Insightful and well written, for any Arsenal fan this is a must read”
Football Hackers by Christoph Biermann
The future of football is now. Football's data revolution has only just begun. The arrival of advanced metrics and detailed analysis is already reshaping the modern game. Now the race is on between football's wealthiest clubs and a group of outsiders, nerds and rule-breakers, who are turning the game on its head with their staggering innovations.Fable reader Sam McFarlane: "Essential for football analysts. Strongly recommend for coaches of any level for inspiration on innovative training and scouting strategies."
Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galeano, Mark Fried
Eduardo Galeano — one of Latin America's most acclaimed authors — has written the beautiful game into a beautiful book. From Aztec champions sacrificed to appease the gods, to Spain's victory in the 2010 World Cup, this is a history of the sport unlike any other.Fable reader Umang Jethva: "Reading this book is almost like sitting in the stadium and savouring every important goal, assist, dribble and save that took place in the game. And the writing is unlike anything you could expect from a nonfiction football book. Almost poetic in some instances. A must must read for all football lovers."
The Language of the Game by Laurent Dubois
Soccer is not only the world's most popular game; it's also one of the most widely shared forms of global culture. The Language of the Game is a passionate and engaging introduction to soccer's history, tactics, and human drama — profiling goalies, referees, managers, commentators, and fans.Soccer Romance Novels
Athletic intensity and competitive passion, on and off the soccer field.Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner
A sapphic rivals-to-lovers rom-com for fans of Ted Lasso and A League of Their Own, where two soccer teammates are at odds before falling in love as their team gears up for the World Cup.Fable reader Yanely: “Such a good light-hearted read! I love the neurodivergent representation! I need more of these two.”
First Flight, Final Fall by C.W. Farnsworth
What do you do when you encounter the famous footballer voted 'Sexiest Athlete Alive' three years running on a soccer field in Germany? If you're Saylor Scott, you challenge him to a shoot-out. And win.Fable reader Megan: "I loved this book so much. I loved how it was a sports romance actually centred around the sport with lots of game and practice scenes. it being soccer or as the Germans call it football so an added bonus for me. The chemistry was amazing. This is definitely one of my favourite books for sure. I highly recommend it!"
Only When It's Us by Chloe Liese
Meet the Bergmans in this enemies-to-lovers new adult romance that tackles the vulnerability of love with humor and heart. Willa Sutter is the next generation of women's soccer — feisty, tempting, and with a temper that makes the devil seem friendly.Fable reader Kahlan: "This book was so good!!!! It was so cute and I LOVED Chloe Liese's writing style. I will for sure be reading more of her books. The characters were amazing and the storyline made my heart go 😍 5 stars!!"
Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa
A classmates-to-friends-to-lovers romance that's equal parts raunchy, heartfelt, queer, and Mexican-American, centered on college football (the REAL football)! Gabriel Piña knows who he is: a college goalkeeper, a future Liga MX or MLS star, and definitely straight. That is, until his philosophy classmate Vale volunteers to tutor him.Fable reader Nata: "I listened to the audio and it was so good! The narrator's voice was perfect!!! All the characters were great, the storyline was believable and interesting. You can't help but fall in love with the MC's and enjoy watching them fall for one another. It was sweet, steamy and the spice was on-point!"
The Long Game by Elena Armas
A disgraced soccer exec reluctantly enlists the help of a retired soccer star in coaching a children's team in this small-town love story.Fable reader Elena Armas: "in my cameron caldani era 🫶🏽 (absolutely adoring getting to experience this with The Long Game Book Club too 🥹)"
Hotshot by Clare Lydon
Sloane Patterson is the ultimate hotshot: a US soccer sensation whose arrival in the UK causes quite the stir. An irresistible romance about the beautiful game — perfect for fans of women's football.Fable reader Cait Cait: "Queer, football, friends to lovers ♥️ super cute."Youth and Coming-of-Age Soccer Stories
Hard-hitting stories of young players navigating life through the game.
Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez
In Rosario, Argentina, Camila Hassan lives a double life. At home, she is La Furia on the field — a powerhouse of skill and talent. When her team qualifies for the South American tournament, Camila gets the chance to see just how far those talents can take her.Fable reader Marly: "I read this in two days. It started a little slow but quickly picked up and remained steady. It is Camila's story about a dream to play soccer and a family and national culture where this is frowned upon for a girl. But even though the story focuses on Camila, the running line is sexism and femicide. I enjoyed the way this book highlighted Argentina and some of its customs and slang."
Booked by Kwame Alexander
Twelve-year-old Nick is a football-mad boy who absolutely hates books. In this follow-up to the Newbery-winning novel The Crossover, football, family, love, and friendship take centre stage as Nick tries to figure out how to navigate his parents' break-up, stand up to bullies, and impress the girl of his dreams.Everand reader asomers_8: “I just love books told in verse and this one certainly didn't disappoint. This book had everything a librarian loves - books, a library, a book club , a COOL librarian, a love of words..... But it also throws in just enough sports, teen romance, teen angst, and family dynamics to make it appeal to a young reader.”
Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
Darius Kellner speaks better Klingon than Farsi, and his first-ever trip to Iran is about to change his life. Then Darius meets Sohrab, the boy next door — soon they're spending their days together, playing soccer, eating faludeh, and talking for hours on a secret rooftop.Fable reader Liren: "A beautiful story of grief and joy, love and anger, identity and belonging, and Darius as the narrator manages to capture all those emotions and everything in between. His blunt and straight-man observations leave you chuckling, but the same tone used for his feelings of shame or the careless cruelty of others cuts like a knife. I cried so much..."
Running with Lions by Julian Winters
Bloomington High School Lions' star goalie, Sebastian Hughes, should be excited about his senior year — until his estranged childhood best friend Emir Shah shows up to summer training camp, and Sebastian realizes the team's success may end up in the hands of the one guy who hates him.Fable reader mikalee13: "What a refreshing read! So nice to see boys playing sports and supporting each other! It's much preferable to the typical toxic masculinity that tends to invade sports books. I also loved the portrayal of Sebastian's body issues. This book would be the perfect gift for a sensitive/awkward boy! Also, like, everyone is queer!"
The Enchanter Heir by Cinda Williams Chima
Though Jonah Kinlock lived through the Thorn Hill Massacre, he did not emerge unscathed. At seventeen, he has become the deadliest assassin in Nightshade, a network that hunts the undead. A gripping fantasy thriller from the acclaimed author of the Seven Realms series.Fable reader Heidi 🌺: "Love this book, one of my comfort books tbh, this is probably like my 10th reread. Read it in like a day, just what I needed too. It is the 4th book in a series though, love the whole series, this one and the next one are just my favorite."Ready to Kick Off Your World Cup Reading List?Whether you want to understand the tactics, live inside a romance, or cheer alongside a player's life story, there's a soccer book here for you. The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs through the summer — plenty of time to read a few. You can find them all on Everand. Sign up now to read for free for 30 days.
Megan McKeough