Goallllllllll! : Children's Soccer Books for the FIFA World Cup 2026

Be a soccer genius with this goal-scoring guide to the beautiful game from the origins of soccer to today's biggest international tournaments. Packed with vital tips and tricks, as well as astounding, mind-boggling stats, and history of the sport, Everything you need to know about soccer! is a vibrant, visual guide to everything you need to know about the world's most popular game.

Twelve-year-old Nick loves soccer and hates books, but soon learns the power of words as he wrestles with problems at home, stands up to a bully, and tries to impress the girl of his dreams.

Hassan faces a hectic month of homework, soccer and gaming while fasting every day for the holy month of Ramadan, in a story about balancing family traditions and secular middle school life.

"This graphic biography shows how Megan Rapinoe's accomplishments on and off the soccer field have made her a household name. Read all about her many wins, from Olympic gold to the Presidential Medal of Freedom"-- Provided by publisher.

It's back to school for the Hillside Valley kids! Sol's trying out for the middle school soccer team but will a crush on the team captain distract her from her goals? Find out in this new Hillside Valley graphic novel--filled with friendship, first crushes, and some impressive soccer skills! Welcome back to Hillside Valley-this time it's Game On for Sol! Twelve-year-old Sol is a great friend, a model student, a beloved daughter and a star soccer player. At least that's what everyone always expects of her. But when the soccer team captain Lily walks by, Sol starts to lose focus. What's with this heart fluttering feeling she has around Lily?! And how can she stay the star player--the star everything--that people see her as if she can barely remember her name (much less how to play soccer) around Lily? Is Sol destined to let everyone down, including herself? Or can she figure out how to be the Sol she wants to be...on and off the field. Settle back into the cozy community of Hillside Valley in this second irresistible graphic novel! And don't miss the first Hillside Valley Graphic Novel, Speak Up, Santiago!

"Ari is not excited when he finds out that he's accidentally made it onto the Blockville obby soccer team. He doesn't even know how to play normal soccer, let alone obby soccer! As training starts and the first game looms, Ari thinks of a sneaky way to get ahead in the game. But is it a fair way to play? And what happens if his secret is discovered?" -- Provided by publisher.

Told in alternating voices, soccer teammates and former friends Tory and Mel develop feelings for each other when they unknowingly meet anonymously online.

"Twelve-year-old Paul, an underdog kid from a troubled home, navigates a tumultuous summer while finding friendship and confidence on the soccer field"-- Provided by publisher.

"The most popular sport in the world is guaranteed to have its fair share of rivalries. Does winning a World Cup make a team the best? Or does Olympic gold deserve the glory? Discover some of soccer's biggest rivalries past and present and decide for yourself who's the best"-- Provided by publisher.

Future Me: Soccer Star explores what it takes to become a soccer player, from the initial spark all the way through to competing in the World Cup! Our budding soccer star discovers their love of the beautiful game at a young age and the spark is born! Follow along as our soccer star attends training, eats nutritional meals and plays in soccer competitions. Including an interview with a real life soccer star, this picture book answers all the questions children have about becoming a soccer player. Future Me is a strong series, with a great visual identity, exploring different careers.

Lola is doing TOO much! She loves all her activities, especially soccer and volunteering at the Humane Society. And she's certain that she can handle it all. But how much is too much? When Lola gets sick and has to miss all of her favorite hobbies, she begins to see that balance and rest are just as important as her other activities. Lola is NOT a good patient, but ultimately learns that our bodies (and minds) sometimes need a break.

A biography of soccer player Lionel Messi, discussing his growing up years, key events in his career, and his achievements.

Twelve-year-old Diez Espada, a soccer-obsessed sleuth named after Lionel Messi's jersey number, tracks down the World Cup trophy in a high-stakes, one-night investigation with his crush Rio and world-famous Detective Enzo.

When new student Max challenges Henry for the position of goalie on the soccer team, he must decide whether using the Book of Spells would make him a cheater.

Henri has attended a special school for her learning disability, dyscalculia, but when she is mainstreamed, she finds herself struggling to balance other parts of her life, and not just in math class--a family feud, drama on the soccer team, and a passion for poetry.

"Kids want to know everything about their favorite athletes, and with this engaging, colorful collection of facts, figures, and photos, they will get a big step closer. A great gift for any mega soccer fan already gearing up for the 2026 and 2027 tournaments or for casual rec league players who want to know more about their sport, The World Almanac 1,501 Incredible Facts for Kids on World Cup Soccer presents thousands of fascinating and surprising "footie facts" about the following World Cup Past, present, and future stars of the men's and women's games Soccer nations of the world Road to the World Cup History and origins of soccer Soccer pros' tips and tricks Rules, technology, gaming, and innovation Memorable matches and teams The World Almanac 1,501 Incredible Facts for Kids on World Cup Soccer will surprise and delight soccer lovers of all ages with every single page."-- Goodreads.

"From the best scorers, defenders, and goalies to the World Cup and everything in between, readers will find soccer's latest and greatest stats here. Photos that pop and small bites of information make for fun, enjoyable reading for impassioned soccer fans. Browsable text and fast-paced soccer action help to draw in reluctant readers as well as the most dedicated sports enthusiasts"-- Provided by publisher.

"A collection of four more stories featuring Yasmin! Whether she's braving the goalie net for the first time on the soccer field, trouble-shooting a plant problem in the garden with her family, tackling a tricky writing assignment, or managing a disagreement with her friends, Yasmin is always thinking outside the box to come up with creative solutions. Yasmin can do it!"--Amazon website

Told in two voices, Jeff stands by his teammate, Andi, who fights to get on the sixth-grade soccer team and then must face opponents who target her for being a girl.

Learn everything there is to know about the groundbreaking career of one of the greatest soccer players of all time in The Totally Awesome World of Cristiano Ronaldo! Are you a soccer superfan? Want to dive into the life of a soccer superstar? A part of the Totally Awesome World series for middle-grade readers, this book covers all the major highlights of Cristiano Ronaldo's career on and off the soccer field. Among discussions of athletic achievements, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy are quizzes, quotes, and illustrations for an engaging guide to the life of this iconic athlete. Cristiano Ronaldo is a five-time FIFA Player of the Year, and the iconic player has won 33 senior trophies in his career. From Real Madrid to Manchester United to his current team Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr, Ronaldo has brought his talent and his dedicated fans with him to each team. He brings his all to the soccer field and to various charities, including UNICEF, Save the Children, and his own foundation. Whether he's wowing yet another crowd or running his businesses in Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo is awesome everywhere he goes. With millions of fans in the stadium and online--he was the first person to reach 500 million followers across all social media accounts--there's a lot to love about Cristiano Ronaldo. The Totally Awesome World of Cristiano Ronaldo includes: The greatest hits of his unbelievably successful career; Ronaldo's background and rise to fame; His philanthropic pursuits; The athlete's business ventures in his Portugal hometown; His impact as a pop culture icon. Perfect for a Cristiano Ronaldo fan or a soccer fanatic, learn about his story and how he came to be the world's highest paid athlete in history. Welcome to Cristiano Ronaldo's totally awesome world! Explore the worlds of more amazing people in The Totally Awesome World of Steph Curry and The Totally Awesome World of MrBeast.

"The North Star soccer team is thrilled when Shane, the new boy at school, turns out to be a talented goalkeeper. But Shane has a temper that gets him in trouble and a demanding father who acts out on the sidelines at every game. Soon Shane's teammates start to worry that something is really wrong--and that Shane's not nearly as tough as he seems."-- Provided by publisher.

"Dory is on her first soccer team with her best friends, Rosabelle and George. She's ready to score a billion goals, but Rosabelle is having a meltdown over wearing cleats, and George is mysteriously acting like a baby. So, Dory attempts to befriend a new teammate, Valentina. But making a new friend isn't so easy, especially when Valentina kicks the ball perfectly every time, steals all the attention, and has a way of making a billion sound kinda small. Determined to outshine Valentina as the star of the team, Dory seeks help from her reliable imagination to flip the score. Complete with pencil-drawn pictures bursting with charm and character, this hilarious series about a lovably energetic little sister and her antics is sure to keep the whole family laughing."-- Provided by publisher.

Although she's bummed that summer is over, Aaliyah is excited for school to start. She hasn't seen her best friend, Travis, all summer! But when they reunite, Travis looks different--taller andkind of cute. It's different spending time with him too because now all he talks about is soccer! And he's been hanging out with Harlee like a lot. And she's much prettier and cooler than Aaliyah. Can Aaliyah get her best friend back? And does she maybe like him as more than a friend?

When a popular student encourages her to join the soccer team, Faith signs up even though she has never played the game and learns about loyalty and friendship.

April and Mae are best friends, and their pets are best friends, too! On Tuesdays, April and Mae play soccer. Mae likes to run, and April likes to cheer. But this Tuesday, Mae slips on the muddy field and misses a goal. April tries to cheer up her friend, but Mae is sad and mad. Can April help Mae feel better?

An inspiring, page-turning sports novel perfect for young readers 8 to 13 years old, and for soccer fans of all ages.

"In 275 career games with the US Women's National Team, soccer superstar Mia Hamm won two Women's World Cup titles and two Olympic gold medals. Learn about the life of US soccer's biggest star"-- Provided by publisher.

The World Cup--the biggest sporting event in the world--is coming to town! When a contest offering up a once-in-a-lifetime chance to attend the World Cup is announced, superfans Ethan, Sasha, and Mateo are all determined to win. To do so, they must embark on a local scavenger hunt for soccer star, El Botin's famous cleats. However, the promotional gimmick takes a turn when the real cleats go missing and chaos is unleashed. With the approaching World Cup on the line, the kids will have to overcome their own rivalries and come together to not only find their hero's cleats but to save his whole career.

When the girls soccer team learns it has been canceled due to budget cuts, they come up with a plan to raise the necessary funds through a face-off with the boys' team, which is led by sneering superstar Chase Gwinn.

Twelve-year-old Golden Maroni starts eighth grade determined to be master of his universe, but learns he cannot control everything on the soccer field, in his friendships, and especially in facing his father's incurable disease.

Pedro would love to be the goalie in the team's first game, but another boy is bigger--so all his friends come over to help him practice before the tryout.

Pick a book. Grow a Reader! This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow! It's time for the Raintree Forest World Cup! Jasper's class is taking part in a World Cup tournament with other third grade classes in the neighborhood. But Jasper is not as excited as everyone else to learn all about soccer, especially since the new student Sofia seems like a soccer know-it-all! Will Jasper be any good at playing soccer? And will his team be victorious in the Raintree Forest World Cup?

"Twelve-year-old Alex loves playing soccer, and she's good at it, too. Very good. When her skills land her a free ride to play for Select, an elite soccer club, it feels like a huge opportunity. Joining Select could be the key to a college scholarship and a bright future--one that Alex's family can't promise her. But as the team gets better and better, her new coach pushes the players harder and harder, until soccer starts to feel more like punishment than fun. And then there comes a point where enough is enough, and Alex and her teammates must take a stand to find a better way to make their soccer dreams come true"-- Provided by publisher.

"For Merci Suárez, eighth grade means a new haircut, nighttime football games, and an out-of-town overnight field trip. At home, it means more chores and keeping an eye on Lolo as his health worsens. It's a year filled with more responsibility and independence, but also with opportunities to reinvent herself. Merci has always been fine with not being one of the popular kids like Avery Sanders, who will probably be the soccer captain and is always traveling to fun places and buying new clothes. But then Avery starts talking to Merci more, and not just as a teammate. Does this mean they're friends? Merci wants to play it cool, but with Edna always in her business, it's only a matter of time before Merci has to decide where her loyalty stands."--Dust jacket.

"At thirteen years old, Valeria 'Magic' Salomón is already the best soccer player her town has ever seen. She has talent in spades and an abuelo whose tough-love coaching and lessons about 'strength and honor' have made her the star of the Overlords, the top boys' team in the state. But everything changes at the State Cup semi-final when Valeria gets her first period while Wearing. White. Shorts. After her team is unexpectedly eliminated, she goes from their secret weapon to their scapegoat. Soon, she doesn't have a team at all anymore. She's not sure she has a relationship with her grandfather either. Valeria's a fighter, however. And with the help of her grandmother and support of her cheerleader BFF, she finds herself on a girls' team for the first time. But the Amazons aren't exactly excited to have her there. After all, Valeria's spent years ignoring their existence. With the next tournament looming on the horizon, Valeria has a month to figure out her place on her new team and learn how to play like a girl." -- Goodreads.com

"Jack and Annie search for the fourth secret of greatness for Merlin the Magician in Mexico City at the 1970 World Cup Games. They hope to learn something new from soccer player great, Pele"-- Provided by publisher.

Bianca is thrilled when her parents announce that her abuelo is coming to live with them. Bianca and Abuelo share a love of soccer, and she can't wait to share her love of drumming with her grandfather too. But when Abuelo arrives, he has his own ideas about how Bianca should practice and play. Those ideas translate into trouble on the field. Can Bianca find the beat in her feet before it costs her team the tournament? Includes notes about soccer and glossary.

"Showcasing the top 100 women soccer players in the modern game, Women's Soccer Legends 2025 offers the latest facts and stats of players in every position who play in the elite leagues. With a star profile on each page, this visually arresting stats book is packed with incisive data and includes stunning heat maps that show the pitch movements of each player."-- Amazon.com.

"Uni loves playing sparkle ball. Is Uni ready to try soccer? Learning something new is fun when you play with friends!"-- Page 4 of cover.

When José is selected for the school soccer team, his dog Feliz eagerly helps him practice.

"The first international women's soccer match was in 1881, but the Women's World Cup didn't become official until 1991--110 years later! Read about the courageous, soccer-loving women who worked hard to have a World Cup of their own in this addition to the Who HQ series. Young readers will learn about the history of women's soccer, star players, and iconic wins! From Team USA's record-breaking four championships to Japan's inspiring win in 2011, this book is full of heartwarming and exciting stories about incredible athletes across decades!"-- Provided by publisher.

"Everymouse on Mouse Island was squeaking about The Super Cup! My two favorite soccer teams, the Squeakers and the Turbo Cheese, had made it to the finals. But something suspicious was happening on the field. The Mighty Mice and the Sewer Rats seemed to be scoring without even trying! Could I get to the bottom of it before my two favorite teams are cheated out of their trophies?"--Back cover.

Soon after her mother marries a man with three sons, sixth-grader Bea Embers fights to form a girls' soccer team at school, despite discrimination and setbacks.

"Between homework, studying, and Chinese school, Měi Yīng's summer is shaping up to be a boring one. Her only bright spots are practice with her soccer team, the Divas, and the time spent with her năi nai, who is visiting from Taiwan. Although Měi Yīng's Mandarin isn't the best and Năi Nai doesn't speak English, they find other ways to connect, like cooking guōtiē together and doing tai chi in the mornings. By the end of the summer, Měi Yīng is sad to see Năi Nai go-she's the com­plete opposite of Měi Yīng serious professor mother-but excited to start fifth grade. Until new kid Sid starts making her the butt of racist jokes. Her best friend, Kirra, says to ignore him, but does everyone else's silence about the harassment mean they're also ignoring Sid . . . or her? As Sid's bullying fuels Měi Yīng's feelings of invisibility, she must learn to reclaim her identity and her voice."--Page 4 of cover.

"This heavily illustrated encyclopedia is the must-have, everything-you-need-to-know soccer book, which covers everything from the basic rules of play to the best players and teams - and even comics featuring a ragtag team of (literal!) animals"-- Provided by publisher.

Does Zoe have to choose between the soccer team and her friends? Find out in the second book in this bright, emotionally touching graphic novel series about three friends who start their own styling business, perfect for fans of Kayla Miller and the Baby-Sitters Club.A winter without their trusty RV means no True Colors salon for Zoe, Mariana, and Everly. So the girls decide to take their salon to school by starting the True Colors Style Club. The club hits the ground running, and the friends are excited to share styling tips with their new members (plus, eat lots of snacks).But Zoe misses playing soccer with her brother. When she decides to join the school team, she finds what her heart has been longing for--and makes a new friend in team captain Gabby. Suddenly, between homework, practice, and games, Zoe doesn't have time for True Colors, never mind time for herself.Can Zoe truly do it all? Or will she have to choose between her favorite friends and her favorite sport?

"A talented young soccer player in Greenfield is given the honor of being a child mascot at an international soccer tournament in Brazil, but when an anonymous letter insists that she doesn't deserve to go, the Aldens investigate"-- Provided by publisher

"Mia Tang is going for the goal in the fourth Front Desk novel by New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang! The Women's World Cup coming to Southern California, everyone is soccer-crazy -- especially Mia Tang! The U.S. is playing China in the finals, and Mia feels like her two identities are finally coming together. Less exciting, though? The fact that her P.E. teacher wants Mia to get out of the soccer field, too -- or fall short of the grade she needs to earn a spot at journalism camp. But as always, Mia Tang is ready with a plan: she'll track down the two women's teams, interview them, and write an A-grade article for P.E. instead! It's not so easy, though, finding professional athletes in Pasadena -- or bringing two identities together, even during a game. As Mia aims for her goals, she'll have to face prejudice, discrimination, and her own fears. But if anyone can find a way to win, it's Mia Tang!"--Provided by publisher