For many years soccer, Brazil and Pele have been linked in the mind of many around the world. You could say that for certain generations, they were the three hearts of the sport. When Pele was born in the Brazilian town of Tres Coracoes (Three Hearts) in 1940, his parents named him Edson Arantes Do […]

John Doyle’s book The World is a Ball: The Joy, Madness, and the Meaning of Soccer is an account of one man’s travels around the world following soccer. The journey begins in 2002 and takes readers through European qualifying and World Cup matches. Doyle not only gives a recap of the contests, but he also […]

In viewing soccer, I've always gotten the sense that the game we're watching represents some bigger metaphor for the life we lead. Two clubs, batting inch for inch up the pitch, each tiny battle won or lost, a portion of a bigger picture. It's why when a goal occurs it is such a cause for […]

Love & Blood: At the World Cup With The Footballers, Fans, and Freaks By Jamie Trecker A Harvest Original/Harcourt ($14.00) If there is one book that should be required reading for the new American fan to the world’s game it’s this one. Jamie Trecker gives us not only a view of the World Cup from […]

Ever since it was first released, Franklin Foer's book "How Soccer Explains The World" has been widely talked about. With the leagues over for the summer, I was lucky enough to finally get around to cracking open a copy of the book to kick off my summer soccer reading. The book's stated goal is to […]

On January 12, 2007, a new era in American professional soccer was launched with the announcement that David Beckham had signed on to join the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. That the deal could be worth as much as $250 million US over 5 years grabbed headlines worldwide and shone the spotlight directly […]