This newly updated edition of The Soccer Encyclopedia (FIFA) will make you an expert of the most popular game in the world. The pages are brimming with the latest facts, stats and records, plus punchy profiles of the best international teams on the planet, as well as essential info about the top leagues and tournaments in world soccer. What's more, you can get the lowdown on all the FIFA competitions from the World Cup to the eWorld Cup and the latest recipients of the FIFA awards. With a comprehensive list of honours citing every international and intercontinental competition, FIFA's The Soccer Encyclopedia is a must-have for every young fan of the sport.

A comprehensive record of the world's most popular game, from its ancient beginnings to the billion-dollar industry it has become today. --cover leaf.

Every four years, the FIFA World Cup captures the global imagination like no other sporting spectacle. With a cumulative television audience of several billion people tuning in to the 2014 World Cup, and an estimated 700 million watching the finals—including more than 25 million in the United States alone—the World Cup is the world’s most-watched sporting event. The Encyclopedia of the FIFA World Cup provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date information available on the history of this incomparable event. An introductory narrative explains the origins and historical progression of the World Cup, while a chronology traces the development of the World Cup since it was first held in 1930. Hundreds of entries cover the players and coaches who have participated in the World Cup and made the most memorable contributions to the event’s history. Additional entries include officials, stadiums, overviews of each major country’s performances, and more. A separate section provides detailed entries for each World Cup finals tournament. Appendixes contain details on every participant in World Cup history, as well as top performers, officials, and World Cup records. Including an indispensable bibliography on the key World Cup texts, Encyclopedia of the FIFA World Cup is an essential reference for soccer fans, players, and researchers alike.

This resource has been updated with the results of the World Cup 2010 and allthe latest international soccer action.

Life lessons from the soccer field, from the bestselling author of Strong is the New Pretty. A bruised shin, a bloody nose. Racing across the field into the arms of your teammates. Leaping high to save a goal. Getting up at dawn to kick ball after ball into the net. Making friends for life. Teaching your younger sister how to dribble. Sharing cupcakes at practice on your birthday. Going to sleep in your jersey. That’s what it means to be fearless, dedicated, confident, resilient, proud, persistent. It doesn’t matter whether you’re 3 or 63––that’s what it means to play like a girl. “Kate T. Parker is my hero. She moves me. The whole world she has created moves me.”––Drew Barrymore

The Kingfisher Soccer Encyclopedia by Clive Gifford is the definitive guide to the world's most popular sport. From the sublime skills of Pele to the lifestyle of a professional soccer player, this gloriously illustrated book explores every aspect of the game. Freshly revised and updated, this is a world soccer book for the 2014 World Cup and beyond. State-of-the-art digital illustrations and stunning photographs bring to life all the key rules, tactics, set plays, and skills. As well as offering practical advice, this informative book also provides an insider's view of the history of the game, profiles of the great clubs, and facts about women's soccer teams and players. Comprehensive and visually thrilling, this book captures all the drama and the passion of a game that unites billions of people across the globe. Includes free World Cup poster for readers to fill in as the tournament progresses

From patches of dirt to gleaming turf, soccer is a game for all. Includes fun facts, maps and infographics, an illustrated diagram, a photo gallery, an interactive glossary, and more. Full color.