Edinburgh mum launches World Cup history children's book and podcast to teach kids ahead of 2026 tournament
Aileen Summers launched the educations children’s book and podcast ahead of the 2026 World Cup tournament
An Edinburgh-born author has launched a new book series and podcast to bring World Cup history to life for children.
Mum-of-three Aileen Summers first created The World Cup Files while living in Argentina in 2023.
The project has come to fruition coinciding with her return to Scotland and the Tartan Army’s return to the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 28 years.
Aileen, who is a mum to an 11-year-old and eight-year-old twins, said: “As a Scottish mum raising three football fanatics, and having relocated to football-mad Argentina three years ago, I wanted stories that entertained my boys and taught them something real about the world’s game.”
The World Cup Files Chapter 1, which is available now as an ebook, spans from the very first World Cup tournament in 1930 until England’s victory in 1966.
Chapter 2 and 3 will be released throughout this year’s tournament, which takes place in the USA, Canada and Mexico and begins on Thursday, June 11.
Alongside the book, a companion podcast is available to stream on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Produced by Aileen’s husband Joaquin Apostolo and her father-in-law Pacho Aspostolo, the World Cup Files podcast dives into the biggest and most iconic moments in the tournament’s history in an audio format for car runs or match build-up.
The project is geared towards children between the ages of eight and 12 years old to help educate the next generation of football fanatics.
Aileen said: “The World Cup Files is football history told for kids like mine: pacey, surprising and full of heart.
“With Scotland back on the biggest stage, there’s no better moment to share these stories with families across the country.”