The history of the FIFA World Cup is often told through moments of sporting brilliance, unforgettable goals, and national triumphs. But a novel book, “Griff nach Gold. Die andere Geschichte der Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft” (roughly translated as “Reach for Gold: The Other History of the Football World Cup”), by Carlos Gomes and Glenn Jäger, argues that the tournament’s narrative is inextricably linked to the political and social forces that have shaped the 20th and 21st centuries. The book, recently reviewed in junge Welt, offers a compelling, and often unsettling, gaze at the World Cup’s complex past.
Gomes and Jäger don’t shy away from confronting the darker aspects of football’s history. The book opens with a poignant dedication to Willy Karembeu, the great-grandfather of 1998 World Cup winner Christian Karembeu, who was exhibited as a “Kanake” at the Hamburg Tierpark Hagenbeck in 1931. This jarring anecdote immediately establishes the central theme: the enduring legacy of colonialism and slavery within the stunning game. The authors aim to tell a history of the tournament that also reflects a broader global history, acknowledging the often-overlooked political currents that have shaped its evolution.
The structure of “Griff nach Gold” is straightforward, following the chronological order of the 22 men’s World Cups held to date, with a look ahead to the upcoming tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Each chapter begins by outlining the historical context surrounding the tournament, before delving into the sporting details. This approach proves effective, allowing readers to easily navigate the book and focus on specific eras or events. The book reads quickly, and the chapter-by-chapter format allows for selective reading.
A key argument presented by Gomes and Jäger is that colonial and racist structures continue to influence football today, despite decades of progress. The authors highlight the historical overrepresentation of European teams in the World Cup, a pattern they attribute to systemic inequalities. The book profiles individuals who challenged these structures, including Uruguayan José Leandro Andrade, considered one of the first international football stars of African descent in the 1920s; Chilean Carlos Caszely, who faced repercussions for refusing to shake the hand of Augusto Pinochet; and Algerian Rachid Mekhloufi, who chose to represent a team-in-exile during the Algerian War of Independence, becoming a symbol of the nation’s struggle for freedom.
For dedicated football fans, the sections focusing on the World Cup qualifying rounds will be particularly engaging. The authors unearth fascinating anecdotes, such as the matches played by Palestinian Jewish football teams in the 1930s, India’s near-participation in the 1950 tournament, and the encounters between West Germany and Saarland in the 1953/54 qualifying campaign. These lesser-known stories add depth and nuance to the broader narrative.
“Griff nach Gold” also reveals previously unknown details. The book notes that construction workers died building stadiums nearly a century before the controversies surrounding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – specifically, during preparations for the inaugural 1930 World Cup in Uruguay. It also highlights that Argentina missed the 1950 World Cup due to a players’ strike sparked by labor organizing. The book reminds us of Willy Tröger, who played for East Germany with only one arm, a testament to a different era of inclusivity, and the Swedish tourists whose tires were slashed in Germany after West Germany’s semi-final defeat in 1958. The tragic plane crash of the Zambian national team during qualifying for the 1994 World Cup, a tragedy often overlooked in European football narratives, is also given due attention.
The book also explores the origins of the first World Cup, asking why Uruguay was chosen as the host nation, why England didn’t participate until 1950, and the reasons behind the 1966 World Cup qualification boycott by African nations. These questions, often glossed over in mainstream accounts, are given thorough and insightful answers.
The chapters covering World Cups before 1966 are particularly captivating, revealing the often-arbitrary nature of early tournaments – from participant selection to tournament formats. External factors, questionable refereeing decisions, and sheer luck all played a significant role. Political interests were always present, most notably during the 1934 World Cup in Fascist Italy, and again during the 1978 World Cup under the Argentinian military dictatorship.
Gomes and Jäger demonstrate that nearly all World Cups have been accompanied by political protests, particularly during the qualifying stages. The book’s chronological structure effectively illustrates the increasing commercialization of football and the consolidation of power within FIFA.
One minor critique, as noted in the junge Welt review, is the book’s exclusive focus on the men’s World Cup. Even as understandable given the scope of the project, acknowledging the nine official Women’s World Cup tournaments in a preface or introductory note would have been a welcome addition. The assumption that the discussion centers solely on the men’s game, while likely true for many readers, reinforces a historical imbalance. However, This represents a minor quibble in an otherwise excellent work.
“Griff nach Gold” is a vital contribution to football literature, offering a nuanced and politically informed perspective on the world’s most popular sport. It’s a book that will challenge your assumptions and deepen your understanding of the complex relationship between football and the world around it. As the 2026 World Cup approaches – co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico – the lessons of history presented in this book are more relevant than ever.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to begin on June 11, 2026, with the final taking place on July 19, 2026. Keep up to date with the latest news and developments on FIFA’s official website.
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