The FIFA World Cup is the world's most-watched sporting event. A cumulative television audience of several billion people tuned in to the 2014 World Cup, and an estimated 700 million watched the finals. The Encyclopedia of the FIFA World Cup provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date information available on the history of this incomparable event. Hundreds of entries cover players, coaches, officials, stadiums, overviews of each major country's performances, and more. Including an indispensable bibliography on the key World Cup texts, this volume is an essential reference for soccer fans, players, and researchers alike.