In June 2010, Africa will host the World Cup, the most significant global sporting spectacle ever to take place on the continent. South Africa's successful bid was in many ways unsurprising: soccer thrives in every country in Africa, and is a vitally important aspect of communities. This fascinating history traces the development of soccer in Africa and investigates what makes African soccer unique. Drawing on a wide range of sources, it also examines how the game fits into the social and political life of the continent.