5 Greatest Soccer Movies To Watch Before The World Cup

The sports genre has been consistently popular in the world of film and television for decades. Some of the greatest stories ever told exist in this genre, such as Rocky, which tells the story of Sylvester Stallone’s underdog boxer as he prepares for a fight and tries to prove himself in the sport.

Rocky has many of the classic sports drama tropes, such as an underdog lead character who lives in not ideal conditions and puts everything on the line in order to succeed in the sport. It’s not only an emotional roller coaster story as a result, but one that genuinely resonates with audiences, hence the film’s popularity in the years since.

The reason for the enduring success of the sports genre in film and television is in part because of these tropes. They make these films entertaining, and, above all else, extremely feel-good stories, which audiences have always come out in droves to the theater to see. Just as some audiences want to see a dark and gritty horror story, many others seek out this genre specifically for its feel-good nature.

Plenty of movies have been made about the sport of soccer in particular, and with the 2026 World Cup fast approaching (it begins on June 11), the days leading up to the world’s biggest sports tournament is a great time to revisit some of the best films made about soccer. The Goal franchise, Bend it Like Beckham, and more serving as core standouts.

5

Bend It Like Beckham

Director Gurinder Chadha had her breakout hit with 2002s Bend it Like Beckham. The film stars Parminder Nagra as Jess Bhamra, a British-Indian teenager who’s obsessed with the sport of soccer, even despite her conservative family’s objections. Bharma idolizes David Beckham, a major player in the sport at the time of the film’s release, and dreams of playing professionally like he did.

Jess’s life changes drastically when she meets Jules, played by Keira Knightley. Jules is confident and sure of herself, both as a player and a person. Jules introduces Jess to organized women’s football, and their friendship ends up being the anchor of the film. There’s competition, jealousy, and plenty of respect between the two as they navigate growing up and deciding what to do with their lives.

Bend it Like Beckham is so successful not only because of the soccer elements, but because it feels like more than just a sports movie. The film isn’t afraid to explore deeper topics like gender roles, immigration, and generational conflict, and director Chadha approaches these themes with plenty of respect and compassion. As a result, Bend it Like Beckham became a hit, with a fanbase still asking for a sequel, because of its optimism and feel-good story, making this a great watch before this year’s World Cup.

4

Kicking & Screaming

©Universal/courtesy Everett Collection

Will Ferrell has made many iconic comedy films over the years, from Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby to Step Brothers. As a result of his own success, some of Ferrell’s work has gotten buried underneath his more beloved projects, and one of these underrated films is Kicking & Screaming. In the film, Ferrell plays Phil Weston, someone who is used to underachieving and plenty of abuse from his hyper-competitive father, Buck, played by Robert Duvall.

Phil ends up becoming the coach of his son’s struggling youth soccer team, which causes old feelings from his childhood to resurface. The film begins as a low-stakes youth sports league story that quickly escalates into one of extreme competition, with meltdowns, questionable behavior on the sidelines, and more. Ferrell leans heavily into his absurdist comedy here, as he did continuously in the early 2000s.

Kicking and Screaming is admittedly much lighter on the soccer angle than Bend it Like Beckham, but it’s still an incredibly enjoyable film for fans of the sport (especially those based in the U.S. and Canada). Still, it exists as a genuine sports comedy, which is increasingly rare in the film industry today (although Ted Lasso has done a lot to change that).

3

Next Goal Wins

Director Taika Waititi has made many famous films over the years, from Jojo Rabbit to Thor: Ragnarok. One title he made that went relatively under the radar, at least by Waititi’s standards, is Next Goal Wins, which stars Michael Fassbender as Thomas Rongen, a flailing coach tasked with being the manager of American Samoa.

Next Goal Wins is, in so many ways, a classic sports underdog story. The American Samoa team are positioned as one of, if not the worst in the entire world, making them a laughingstock in their region especially. Rongen is viewed in a similar light by the U.S. soccer federation, so he matches with American Samoa well, but ends up reviving the team and taking them to heights they never even dreamed of.

Along the way, Fassbender’s character clashes with players as a result of his intensive and, at times, outright abrasive personality. He is, in so many ways, the exact opposite of the easy-going, gentle American Samoa team, but it’s exactly that that makes them a great match. Overall, Next Goal Wins is heartwarming, fun, and very Taika Waititi. It may not be the director’s best work, and it likely will continue to be overshadowed by some of his other projects, but it’s still an incredbly enjoyable film.

2

Goal: The Dream Begins

The Goal films were criminally underrated soccer dramas in the 2000s. The first, Goal: The Dream Begins, follows Santiago Munez, played by Kuno Becker. Munez is an undocumented immigrant living in Los Angeles, California, who proves himself to be incredibly good at the game of soccer. In fact, he’s so good that he gets the once in a lifetime opportunity to play professionally in England.

Santiago goes to Newcastle United, a club based in the north-east of England, and faces some severe culture shock and doubts about his own ability. The film features many of the classic sports drama elements, from training montages to locker room clashes, all of which give off real early 2000s vibes.

The film is so successful as a soccer film in particular, in part because of how realistic it feels. Munez truly feels like a real player right from the get-go, which is certainly helped by the fact that he plays for a real club and that there are cameos for real players, like David Beckham.

1

Will

Will tells the story of a young boy who is grieving the loss of his father, played by Damien Lewis. The boy and his father planned on traveling to Istanbul to see Liverpool play AC Milan in the Champions League final. The boy speaks with his father, who guides him along his journey to Turkey and during the match.

Will is an extremely heartfelt film anchored by the emotional bond between Lewis’ character and his son. It’s a story that centers on grief, making it relatable for virtually anyone, while also being especially enjoyable for soccer fans. The film may be a bit on the nose at times, especially when it comes to its sentimental story, but it’s still extremely heartwarming nonetheless, and Lewis in particular gives a standout performance earlier on in his career.