The Shortest History of Football | Just in Time for the FIFA World Cup 2026!

From ancient kicking games to the world’s most popular sport

Humans have enjoyed kicking balls around for thousands of years, whether in Ancient China or sixteenth-century North America. Football as we know it today was born from two vastly different British traditions: rough-and-tumble folk football and the games played in elite boarding schools. So how did it go from a local pastime to the pinnacle of global sport?

Brian D. Bunk traces the incredible history of football, comprised of both glories and tragedies: from muddy World War I trenches to the stadium-palaces of Saudi Arabia; the ancient Mayans to Lionel Messi; the first recorded women’s football match to today’s Lionesses; World Cup boycotts to enduring rivalries. Along the way, football has influenced economics and politics, and created an international community unlike any other.

The Shortest History of Football is a concise but comprehensive guide to the evolution of ‘the beautiful game’ that will delight history buffs and football fans alike.