As the World Cup descends on Kansas City, a literary warmup for understanding soccer’s spread

By: Tim Bascom

Outlets: Kansas Reflector

Published: May 12, 2026

Words: 1,201

Last Updated: 2 months, 2 weeks ago

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Because soccer is the most popular sport worldwide, there are many books related to the game. But as we anticipate the 2026 World Cup and the six games Kansas City will host, let me recommend a pair of books that are not predictable biographies about superstars or championship teams.

These authors, instead, dive into the fascinating undercurrent of the sport, where soccer is an expression of cultural identity, community, and, oftentimes, deeply held political views.

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