An updated edition examining association football through the perspectives of economics, statistics, psychology, and business. The authors analyze topics including the financial performance of football clubs, player recruitment, coaching, international competition, fan behavior, and the development of the sport in different countries. This edition includes new material on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Major League Soccer, Lionel Messis move to Inter Miami, and the growth of soccer in the United States.Why do clubs almost always lose money--and does it mean some will disappear? Why dont American men dominate the game like American women do? Do coaches actually even matter? These are questions that consume soccer fans--and Soccernomics holds the answers. Soccernomics is a revolutionary way of looking at soccer that has helped change how some of the worlds biggest clubs are run. Using insights from economics, statistics, psychology, and business to cast a new and entertaining light on how the game works, experts Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski reveal the often surprisingly counterintuitive truths about soccer. This 2026 World Cup edition is updated throughout, including a brand-new chapter discussing MLS, Messi joining Inter Miami, and the rise of soccer in the United States. Soccernomics remains essential reading for anyone in search of a strategic, systematic perspective on the game.

Back cover.