The best World Cup books to brush up on your football knowledge ahead of the 2022 tournament

Are you someone who likes the niche facts about World Cups and all the small little details that others wouldn't care about? Then the World Cup Nuggets: Everything You Need To Know About The World Cup is the book for you. From why there were black bands around the goalposts during Argentina 1978 to which tournament featured no red cards - you can find out about it all.

Only 20 managers have managed to guide national sides to a World Cup victory. In his book, Chris Evans searches for the secrets and the key to winning the most prestigious tournament in world football. The book includes insights from journalists, players, and managers as they try to unlock the mystery.

1982 Brazil The Glorious Failure: The Day Football Died tells the story of the 1982 Brazillian team that changed the way football was played forever. They lit up the World Cup stage, with a style of football that was branded 'futebol arte' and was one of the greatest sides to lift the golden trophy.

For England fans, 2018 was the year the national side was oh-so-close to getting their hands on the World Cup trophy. After an embarrassing exit from Euro 2016, there didn't seem like there was much hope during Russia 2018. It was the year of waistcoats (thanks to Gareth Southgate) and a blistering heatwave, but most importantly the year England fans could dream.

Various football writers have contributed to Against All Odds: The Greatest World Cup Upsets, which dissects some of the most unlikely results in World Cup tournaments. You'll get to read about how they were achieved and what really happened during and after them.

The days to the countdown of Qatar 2022 tick down day by day, but are you looking for a great read before it all kicks off? An Armchair Fan's Guide to the Qatar World Cup: The Story of How Football Came to the Desert by Jon Berry is the perfect option. It gives lighthearted commentary on what the 2022 World Cup will look like and how the football landscape is changing.

During the 1952 World Cup, the small nation of Northern Ireland was only two games away from the World Cup final of 1968. The book explores the famous squad of players who were led by Danny Blanchflower and their dream to make it to a World Cup final. Including interviews with all the surviving players, the book finally tells the full story of Northern Ireland's greatest-ever team. A gripping rollercoaster of a story that will thrill football and sports fans.

No Longer Naïve: African Football’s Growing Impact at the World Cup by Ibrahim Mustapha is a fascinating book that takes an in-depth look at the growth of African football and how the World Cup became the zenith of the sport internationally. It also questions if an African national side are any closer to lifting the prestigious trophy.

Like the serious side of football? Blood on the Crossbar: The Dictatorship's World Cup by Rhys Richards tells the story of how the World Cup, hosted and won by Argentina in 1978, was played against the backdrop of a brutal military dictatorship. It's a story of the people: Argentinean exiles, Parisian students, brave journalists, the marching mothers of Plaza de Mayo and their missing children - and Dutch stand-up comedians who led international boycotts from thousands of miles away.

Take a trip down memory lane to the glorious footballing year of 1966 when England lifted the World Cup trophy. Sir Bobby Charlton recounts his memories of the journey to that victory, his teammates, the matches, the atmosphere and everything else in between.

If you're more into photography-led books, The Times has collated some of the best moments in World Cup history into this fantastic book. With striking, full-colour photography, rarely seen archival images and sensational reporting on the action, The Times World Cup Moments tells the unofficial story of the world’s largest single sporting event as it unfolded on – and off – the pitch.

There's nothing that says a football tournament like starting and completing a Panini sticker book. You can now get your hands on the Qatar 2022 edition to mark the tournament and forever remember it. Get nostalgic by swapping and collecting stickers to create your own memento of the tournament. A great gift for fans young and old.