Every four years, the world's best national soccer teams compete for the World Cup. Billions of people tune in from around the world to experience the remarkable games unfolding live. From Diego Maradona's first goal against England at the 1986 World Cup to Nelson Mandela's surprise appearance at the 2010 final in South Africa, these unforgettable World Cup moments have helped to create a global phenomenon. In "The World Cup: A History of the Planet's Biggest Sporting Event, 2026 Edition," veteran soccer reporter Clemente A. Lisi chronicles the tournament from 1930 to today, including a preview of the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Lisi provides vivid accounts of individual games, details the innovations that impacted the sport across the decades, and offers biographical sketches of greats such as Pele, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi. In addition, Lisi includes objective coverage of off-field controversies such as the FIFA corruption case, making this book the only complete and impartial history of the tournament. Featuring personal interviews and behind-the-scenes stories from the author's many years attending and covering the World Cup, this book is the definitive history of this global event. "A History of the World Cup, 2026 Edition" is the most complete and up-to-date telling of the tournament's story. In this edition, I've combined decades of reporting on the World Cup with extensive historical research to create a vivid, accessible narrative. I wanted readers to experience the drama of key matches, understand the journeys of icons like Pele, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi, and see how the tournament evolved on and off the field. I also felt it was important to address the sport's controversies honestly, including FIFA's corruption scandals, because they're part of the World Cup's larger history. With the 2026 tournament approaching, I aimed to offer both a rich look back and a meaningful look forward to a World Cup that will redefine soccer in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Above all, my goal is to engage fans and newcomers with a story that feels alive and complete. Clemente A. Lisi is executive editor at Religion Unplugged, a non-profit online news magazine. He has worked as a journalist for more than two decades. In that time, he has worked at major metropolitan dailies such as the New York Post and the New York Daily News and served as senior editor at ABC News. He is the author of "The U.S. Women's Soccer Team: An American Success Story," "A History of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team," and all editions of "A History of the World Cup."