Encyclopedia of the FIFA World Cup

The World Cup, occurring every four years, always brings about the publication of numerous histories and encyclopedias.  This one, by sports writer Dunmore, author of Historical Dictionary of Soccer, comes in response to the summer 2014 event in Brazil.  Still, the scope exceeds that one event, covering every World Cup from 1930 on.  Most of the volume consists of alphabetically arranged entries focusing on players, coaches, stadiums, and event hosts and summaries of the performance of every country that has participated in a World Cup.  The information contained in this volume is mainly of the quick-and-dirty variety; the text is unadorned by photographs, and there are no cross-references or further readings following the entries.  There is, however, an excellent final bibliography of about 30 resources on World Cup history.  Perhaps the most useful aspect of this encyclopedia is its ‘Tournament Recaps,’ which gives a succinct summary of each World Cup followed by a user-friendly chart of game results and round-by-round progression toward the champion of each event.  This section is preceded by a valuable, six-page introduction offering an overview of the entire history of this now hugely popular sporting phenomenon.  Best suited for public libraries, the volume also will appeal to academic readers at institutions that support soccer programs…Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. * CHOICE *
Libraries gearing up for the 2018 World Cup may find this concise volume a helpful addition for soccer enthusiasts of all ages. * Booklist *
This encyclopedia is a necessary and thoroughly engaging companion to the sport that so many around the globe have come to adore. Prefacing the alphabetical entries is an excellent and concise history of the tournament. . . .Within the entries are fascinating facts and exciting moments from games worth reliving, such as American hero Landon Donovan’s dramatic late goal against Algeria in the 2010 tournament, or French legend Zinedine Zidane’s notorious red card received during the 2006 final. The book’s encyclopedic format makes it easy for readers to track the ebbs and flows of a favorite player or home team. Including a number of appendixes to chart individual tournament award winners, the book offers entertaining, generous information about 'the beautiful game' and its crowning tournament. * American Reference Books Annual *