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£9.99
Published
26 May 2026
Paperback
9781917532419
Ebook
9781917532426
Press Release
Coming soon.
By Brian D. Bunk:

 

The Shortest History of Football takes readers on an epic journey from the game’s humble origins to its place today at the pinnacle of global popular culture.

From the muddy trenches of Flanders to the stadium-palaces of Saudi Arabia, from the ancient Mayans to Leo Messi, from the first recorded women’s football match to today’s Lionesses, this is a concise yet comprehensive history of the world’s best-loved and most influential sport.

For history buffs and football fans alike, here is the perfect literary companion to the 2026 World Cup.

Old Street Publishing The Shortest History of Football

The Shortest History of Football takes readers on an epic journey from the game’s humble origins to its place today at the pinnacle of global popular culture.

From the muddy trenches of Flanders to the stadium-palaces of Saudi Arabia, from the ancient Mayans to Leo Messi, from the first recorded women’s football match to today’s Lionesses, this is a concise yet comprehensive history of the world’s best-loved and most influential sport.

For history buffs and football fans alike, here is the perfect literary companion to the 2026 World Cup.

 9.99
 
 

‘Essential reading for historians of sport, and an absorbing read for the casual football fan’
—Stefan Szymanski on From Football to Soccer

 
 
  • ‘From Football to Soccer is the best kind of sport history. It effectively places soccer’s story into larger social contexts while meticulously documenting source material'
    —AHR
 
 
Brian D. Bunk

Brian D. Bunk is an author and professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He teaches on world history, modern Europe and the history of sport.