Whatever will be, will be : Whatever will be, will be: A Matter of Life and Football – Shortlisted for Charles Tyrwhitt Football Book of the Year and Sports Audiobook of the Year 2026

'A book so beautiful that it finally made me understand what football means.An exceptional writer.'- Bella Mackie'So much more than a book about football.A book about aging, community and memory. Rich in detail and great jokes. I wish I had written it.' - Josh Widdicombe'For anyone who loves the FA cup like me, this is your 50 shades.'- Chris Stark 'A book by a Fulham fan would have to be very good for me to recommend it.Brilliant...I couldn't put it down. Annoyingly.' - Seann Walsh 'Mesmerising and unputdownable, like Fever Pitch meets The Sportswriter.I commend it in the highest terms.' - Amol Rajan'It might be the most perfect football book ever.'- Charlie Cooper'I can't recommend it highly enough to anyone who loves beautiful writing.'- Ivo Graham 'A beautiful book of rare emotional honesty and depth.'- Ali Millar'A book that's guaranteed to remind you why you love football.'- MUNDIAL From the Sunday Times bestselling author of It's Always Summer Somewhere comes a moving and often hilarious journey through the 2024/25 FA Cup - from the first muddy preliminary round in Penrith to a glorious sunny day at Wembley. On the brink of turning 40, Felix White sets out to watch a match from every round of the Cup, meeting fans, players and dreamers at every level of the English game.As he travels the country, football becomes a way to explore memory, identity, grief and joy.While he reflects on his own lifelong obsessions, his story becomes a unique expression of how the game communicates something vital, both literal and internal, between a child and an adult. Told with lyrical wit and heartfelt honesty, Whatever Will Be, Will Be is more than just a story about football - it's about growing up, holding on and the strange ways sport connects us all.