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What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

A vivid portrait of the world in 1966, centred around the storied World Cup tournament and its backdrop, published to mark the 60th anniversary.

1966, with London declared ‘a swinging city’ and John Lennon proclaiming the Beatles ‘more popular than Jesus’, the year’s football World Cup convenes an international community standing at an inflection point, emerging from the long shadow of the Second World War and hurtling towards the future.

Propelled by social change, civil rights movements and technological advancement serve as beacons of hope and possibility. Yet, Cold War tensions, the escalation of the Vietnam War, and the space race between America and the Soviet Union project a different image. As China’s Cultural Revolution begins, and talks are initiated to reunify Germany, football has the potential to inflame ideological rivalries, unite old enemies, and allow nations to demonstrate their prowess on a global stage.

Through the prism of the extraordinary tournament and the eight teams that reached the quarter finals – England, West Germany, Uruguay, Argentina, Portugal, Soviet Union, North Korea and Hungary – Michael Calvin provides a vivid portrait of a critical moment in world history. Examining the sporting, social and cultural significance of the competition and its backdrop, this hugely entertaining book brings to life a world and a s

'The great book on 1966 that needed writing.'
PAUL HAYWARD, OBSERVER

'Panoramic and polemic.'
JONATHAN NORTHCROFT, SUNDAY TIMES

'England’s one World Cup victory needed this book. An absorbing account of what 1966 actually meant... by the writer who has covered more aspects of how the English game actually works than any other.'
MIGUEL DELANEY, INDEPENDENT

'A tremendous accomplishment. Rich, compelling and highly readable.'
SEB STAFFORD-BLOOR, THE ATHLETIC

© Michael Calvin 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Critics Review

The great book on 1966 that needed writing – and Calvin was the perfect author. England's “only” triumphant day is set in the context of social transformation. A panoramic view of a revolutionary decade with English football's finest moment at the heart of the story.
Observer
Panoramic and polemic, Calvin tells it like it was when England won the World Cup. Everyone knows the numerals – 1966 – but this wonderful book brings them to life, as a year and a moment in time.
Sunday Times
England’s one World Cup victory needed this book. An absorbing account of what 1966 actually meant, beyond the mere number that has formed the legend, by the writer who has covered more aspects of how the English game actually works than any other. Everyone knows about 1966, but this will tell you so much you didn't realize, while necessarily documenting how it influenced change.
Independent
A tremendous accomplishment. Rich, compelling and highly readable; this is an entirely new set of lenses for a year and a tournament that has so often been reduced to being England’s moment of ultimate triumph.
The Athletic
Plunge yourself into a dream summer, detailed with Michael Calvin's trademark forensic attention to detail. With its larger world perspective as well as its enthralling nuance, 1966 will capture your imagination. An education from start to finish.
Daily Mirror
Author Michael Calvin
Narrator Michael Calvin
Duration 11 hours and 39 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781529992069
Format Audiobook
Publisher Transworld
Genre Association football (Soccer), General and world history, History of sport, Social and cultural history
Availability AU, GB, IE

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