The esophagus that saved U.S. soccer is the story of Dino Vanole, the goalkeeper for the U.S. team in qualifications for the 1990 World Cup. It’s a lovely character study.
The greatest World Cup game you’ve probably never heard of is about a 1938 clash between Poland and Brazil, that turned into an epic duel between the great Polish player Ernst Wilimowski and the legendary Brazilian Leonidas. The game produced 11 goals. It also tells of the fate which befell some of the great Poles after World War II. The article links to footage from the match which is a rare glimpse at pre-WWII football, which was played with a much heavier leather ball than the one we have today.
This short BBC radio documentary will give you insight in the Mesoamerican ballgame which was the first organized sport in the world. A fascinating parallel to the modern practice of professional sports.

Photo by David Cabrera.