Explore the pivotal year of 1966 through the lens of the storied World Cup tournament in this vivid historical account by Michael Calvin. Published to mark the 60th anniversary, this book examines how 1966 served as an inflection point, emerging from the shadow of the Second World War while facing new global tensions.

• Examines the sporting, social, and cultural significance of the 1966 World Cup.
• Analyzes the backdrop of the year, including social change, civil rights movements, and technological advancement.
• Details the Cold War tensions, the Vietnam War escalation, and the space race context.
• Focuses on the eight teams that reached the quarter finals: England, West Germany, Uruguay, Argentina, Portugal, Soviet Union, North Korea, and Hungary.
• Shows how the football tournament had the potential to inflame ideological rivalries or unite nations on a global stage.

This work has been praised as "The great book on 1966 that needed writing" by Paul Hayward (Observer) and called "Panoramic and polemic" by Jonathan Northcroft (Sunday Times).

• Author: Michael Calvin
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Publication Date: May 28, 2026
• Print Length: 288 pages
• ISBN-10: 0857508636
• ISBN-13: 978-0857508638
• Dimensions: 16.3 x 2.9 x 24.4 cm
• Weight: 500 g

Discover how this entertaining and compelling book brings to life a world and a sport caught in a tide of change, detailing how the events of 1966 altered history forever.