Soccer Book from National Geographic Kids Well-Timed, Strong Intro to Basics: REVIEW

Every so often, there’s a surge of popularity in the United States and Canada for soccer, a sport that hasn’t always received fanfare from residents. The first surge in my memory was in 1994, the first time the United States hosted the World Cup. Locally, there was a surge in 2007 when Toronto received its Major League Soccer franchise, the Toronto FC. That’s the same year that legend David Beckham signed to the LA Galaxy, giving things a boost there.

This well-timed book from National Geographic Kids with surely appeal to the newly minted fans during the 2026 World Cup, spread between the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Written for ages 5 to 8, it provides a solid and understandable introduction to the basics of the game, including rules, equipment, and how to play. Sections are devoted to soccer’s history, organizations, tournaments, global popularity, and superstars. There’s also a quiz and glossary at the end. A fun fact I learned, since the first televised soccer games were in black and white, they made the balls black and white. I always assumed it was just a random pattern to show off the geometry of the ball.

Author Melissa Santoyo has skillfully encapsulated a large subject into an accessible format, and the designers have given a clear hierarchy for easy consumption.

The title graphic is a sample spread from the book, as included on the Amazon listing.