A people’s history of football

Soccer is so much more than the billionaire buyers and seven-figure signing fees that dominate the headlines. Look beyond the Premiership and the World Cup, the sublime brilliance of Messi and Mbappé, and you’ll find a story unparalleled in the world of sport. From England, France, and Germany to Palestine, South Africa, and Brazil, ‘A People’s History of Soccer’ reveals how the ‘beautiful game’ has been a powerful instrument of emancipation for workers, feminists, anti-colonialist activists, young people, and protesters around the world. Mickaël Correia’s history from below retraces the journeys of professionals, amateurs, and enthusiasts alike. Countering the clichés about soccer fans, he dives into soccer countercultures born after the Second World War, from English hooligans to the ultras who played a central role in the ‘Arab Spring’. And with chapters on anti-fascism, the women’s game, and the rise in community-owned clubs, Correia reminds us that soccer can be a powerful social and political force – as generous as it is subversive.