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A monumental exploration of soccer and society in our time -- by its preeminent historian.In the twenty-first century, soccer commands the allegiance, interest, and engagement of more people in more places than any other phenomenon in the world. David Goldblatt -- author of the acclaimed, best-selling The Ball Is Round -- charts the sport's global cultural ascent, economic transformation, and deep politicization.Based on a decade of research and reporting, The Age of Football sheds light on the greatest issues of our time -- including globalization, immigration, nationalism -- and the role that soccer plays. From soccer's connections to social discord in the Middle East as a site for protest and a tool for dictatorships to the reasons behind its surprising surge in popularity in China, India, and the United States, Goldblatt reveals that this massively popular sport is vital to understanding our social, political, and economic lives.