Top Soccer Books to Celebrate the Excitement of the World Cup

For those with young readers who are absolutely obsessed with the World Cup, be sure to check out this list of recommendations! ⚽️ It includes both fiction and nonfiction books for readers of all ages.

Visit our Bookshop for more recommendations.

GOOOOL! A Bilingual Book of Soccer

Author: Mike Alfaro | Illustrator: Gerardo Guillen | Publisher: Blue Star Press

Perfect for learning new words in Spanish and English, this durable board book introduces the exciting game of soccer while sharing messages of good sportsmanship and teamwork. Part of the beloved Sí Sabo Kids series, it celebrates the beautiful game in a fun, accessible way for babies, kids, and grown-up fans.

With bright illustrations and simple vocabulary all about the game of soccer, this Spanish book for kids makes learning feel like play and helps get the whole family ready for World Cup action!

A must-have for fans of early learning books in Spanish, bilingual books and fútbol-loving families—grab your copy and head to the pitch!

Maisy Plays Soccer: A Maisy First Experiences Book

Author/Illustrator: Lucy Cousins | Publisher: Candlewick

Maisy and her friends can’t wait to play soccer! Maisy puts on her uniform, laces up her sneakers, and heads to the field. Charlie, Tallulah, and Dotty are on the blue team, while Maisy, Cyril, and Eddie are on the red. Let’s play! Soon enough the game heats up, with plenty of action, excitement, and suspense. Who will be the first team to make a goal? Whatever the score, it’s all in good fun, and everyone is still the best of friends at the end!

The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field

Author: Scott Riley | Illustrator: Nguyen Quang and Kim Lien | Publisher: Millbrook Press

After watching the World Cup on television, a group of Thai boys is inspired to form their own team. But on the island of Koh Panyee, in a village built on stilts, there is no open space. The boys can play only twice a month on a sandbar when the tide is low enough. Everything changes when the teens join together to build their very own floating soccer field.

This inspiring true story by debut author Scott Riley is gorgeously illustrated by Nguyen Quang and Kim Lien. Perfect for fans of stories about sports, beating seemingly impossible odds, and places and cultures not often shown in picture books.

Mina vs. The Monsoon

Author: Rukhsanna Guidroz | Illustrator: Debashmita Sasgupta | Publisher: Yali Books

Mina loves to play soccer all year round. Nothing comes close to it. But when the monsoon arrives, Mina is stuck indoors and she can’t help feeling restless and bored. Her ammi doesn’t understand. The doodhwalla doesn’t understand. That’s when Mina decides she’ll find ways of chasing away the clouds herself. In doing so, she makes an unexpected discovery. Soccer will never be the same again for Mina!

In a charming story that any kid who loves a sport will relate to, soccer-mad Mina tries just about any trick to stop the monsoon clouds from raining on her game. In doing so, she shows us glimpses of her life in a village in eastern India, highlighting the important role played by monsoon rains in this part of the world. The heart of the story, however, is the bond forged between a mother and her daughter on a gray, gloomy day.

96 Facts About Fifa: Quizzes, Quotes, Questions, and More!

Author: Arie Kaplan | Illustrator: Risi Rodil | Publisher: Tinker

Packed with fun facts, quick quizzes, and bonus pages for journaling, this is a must-have for anyone wanting to know more about the international governing body of soccer and some of the sport’s best players, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, Mia Hamm, Marta Vieira da Silva, and Pelé.

Offside

Author: Christina Diaz Gonzalez and Mari Costa| Illustrator: Risi Rodil | Publisher: Tinker

For the first time ever, the Jackson Middle School soccer team is going co-ed--thanks to Nicky's determination. Now Nicky and Fabiola are on a team with Al, Palmer, Seba, and the rest of the boys . . . but that doesn't mean they're all on the same side. Team captain Al is going to do whatever he can to keep the girls off the team, just the way his father wants.

When Al and Nicky's rivalry threatens to tear the team apart, everyone's going to have to pick sides. That is, until Palmer looks into why Nicky joined the team, and he starts to realize that there's a bigger problem than what's on the field. . .

And maybe the only way to truly win is together.

With text in English and Spanish, Offside features the groundbreaking format used in Invisible, paired with engaging, accessible, and entertaining storytelling. This is a must-have graphic novel about soccer, friendship, and what it really means to work as a team.

The Kicks: Saving the Team

Author: Alex Morgan| Illustrator: Risi Rodil | Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Twelve-year-old Devin loves to play soccer. If she hadn’t just left Connecticut to move across the country, she would have been named seventh-grade captain on her school soccer team.

But now that Devin is starting seventh grade in Kentville, California, all bets are off. After all, some of the best players on the US national team come from California. She’s sure to have stiff competition. Or so she thinks.

When Devin shows up for tryouts, she discovers that the Kentville Kangaroos—otherwise known as the Kicks—are an absolute mess. Their coach couldn’t care less whether the girls win or lose. And Devin is easily one of the most talented players.

The good news is, Devin quickly makes friends with funny, outgoing Jessi; shy but sweet Zoe; and klutzy Emma. Can Devin and her newfound friends pull together and save the team from itself?

Almost Sunset

Author: Wahab Algarmi| Publisher: HarperAlley

It's almost sunset, and Hassan has been dreaming about eating since the sun came up. The month of Ramadan has begun, and not eating until sundown intensifies his already busy days full of homework, soccer, and gaming. And since his teachers and friends at school barely understand Ramadan and its traditions, it's easier to just...not mention it.

As the month stretches on, Hassan's family and community grow closer together. They wake up before sunrise every morning, feast when the sun goes down, and attend mosque in the evenings. Can Hassan balance it all during the hectic holy month—faith, tradition, school, and fun, too?

Forward: My Story

Author: Abby Wambach| Publisher: HarperCollins

Abby Wambach, World Cup champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and longtime U.S. Women’s soccer team captain, delivers an inspiring middle grade memoir for young readers, FORWARD: MY STORY. Soccer star Wambach details her life and her recent jump into the limelight, in her own words, speaking from the heart.

From growing up as the youngest of seven in upstate New York to scoring more international goals than any other player in soccer history (184 goals, 77 of which were headers!), she has remained a passionate player and a champion, not only in soccer, but for women’s rights and equal opportunity. It’s a story of passion, of finding her identity, of failure and success. And of course, it’s a story about soccer, and it boils down to one question: with everything that life throws at you, how do you keep moving the ball forward?