I have read quite a few nonfiction books about the business side of sports, particularly soccer, and "The Away Game" by Sebastian Abbot could be one of the more interesting stories I have learned. It follows a class of young African boys who are scouted by Qatar to join their academy with promise of exposure to European clubs, which leads to fame, riches, and success not only for the players but for their families and even villages. Basically the idea is that these boys play so much soccer that they are better than the average player but with no money, they will never be discovered. This is an easy set up for promises, dreams, and a dash of corruption to get the players and their families to agree to almost anything.

What makes "The Away Game" work so well is that it does not just tell the story of the academy's pros and cons, but it tells the stories of some of the players, in their own words, following the games that they win and lose, the coaches impressions of them, and the final outcomes of their work. The drama and tension of the players and their dreams are well implemented, and the reader is cheering their victories and agonizing over their failures. The attachment that Abbot gives the readers to these young men makes "The Away Game" much more compelling and dramatic than it could have been in the hands of a less skilled writer. This is essential reading for any soccer fan.

I have received this as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.