'What the World Cup Means to Me' book available for download

World Soccer Talk® is pleased to announce that the What the World Cup Means to Me eBook is now available as a free download. Soccer fans can get it by signing up through our website at worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/worldcupbook.

The eBook is beautifully designed with a custom look-and-feel throughout the 29 pages. Each of the essays in the eBook feature their own illustration. Then, on the back page of the eBook, all of the iconography are combined to form one collective image. Meanwhile, the cover design is inspired by the Middle East.

Some of the biggest names in US soccer media

What the World Cup Means to Me features 25 original essays from many famous names in soccer media circles. They include:

Simon Kuper, co-author of Soccernomics and Financial Times columnist
Rebecca Lowe, NBC Sports presenter
Danny Higginbotham, soccer analyst for NBC Sports, ESPN, and Philadelphia Union
Ian Joy, soccer analyst for CBS Sports and New York FC
Tim Vickery, soccer journalist
Adam Spangler, Nike senior director
Tommy Smyth, Grumpy Pundits co-host
Brian Phillips, New York Times bestselling author
Phil Schoen, beIN SPORTS commentator
John Devlin, True Colours designer and author
Laurence McKenna, True Geordie and the Kickoff co-host
John Nicholson, Football 365 columnist and author of “Can we have our football back?”
Misha Sher, global head of sports, entertainment, and culture at Mediacom
Jonathan Tannenwald, soccer writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer
Janusz Michallik, soccer analyst for ESPN and Sirius XM
Chris Oakley, Kitbliss designer
Daryl Grove, Total Soccer Show Podcast host (rest in peace)
Christopher Harris, World Soccer Talk Publisher
Peter Lupson, author of “Thank God for Football” and “Across the Park”
Kyle Fansler, World Soccer Talk content editor
Kartik Krishnaiyer, World Soccer Talk senior writer
Juan Arango, soccer commentator
Richard Farley, soccer content producer
Richard Whittall, writer
Paul Bestall, host of Mysteries and Monsters podcast

What’s unique about the eBook is that everyone has their own perspective on what the World Cup means to them. There are some shared memories, but all of us find different meaning in the competition.

In addition to the stories published by notable names in the soccer media landscape, World Soccer Talk wants to hear from you — the soccer fans. We want to read your stories of what the World Cup means to you. To share your story, write your contribution in the comments section of the Share Your World Cup Story page.

The back story to the eBook release

First published in 2010, but completely redesigned and featuring several new chapters for the 2022 edition, the eBook stands the test of time. What’s fascinating is that some of the contributors who were featured in the 2010 edition went on to reach bigger and better heights. For example, Rebecca Lowe at the time was a sideline reporter at ESPN UK. Brian Phillips was a blogger, writing pieces for his own website, Run of Play. Sadly, one of the contributors, Daryl Grove from Total Soccer Show passed away in 2020 after a battle with cancer.

World Soccer Talk has published several eBooks covering a wide range of soccer topics including cord cutting guides and where to find leagues on television, as well as personal experiences following the sport’s favorite events around the world. Among our books published are Blue with Envy – My American Journey with Manchester City and SoccerWarz: Inside America’s Soccer Feud Between MLS, NASL and USL, both available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, SmashWords and all major booksellers.