The global prominence of soccer means the sport has fans from all walks of life and sometimes in the unlikeliest of places. Documentarians have found stories where soccer is played amid sociopolitical turmoil or where it serves as a community-building balm among those living on the margins.
With the World Cup putting a spotlight on the sport, here are seven real-life stories that use soccer as an inspirational force.
2021
‘Captains of Zaatari’
Stream it on Kanopy or rent it on Apple TV
The future is uncertain for Fawzi and Mahmoud, Syrian teenage boys who are best friends, living in a Jordanian refugee camp. Their talent for soccer, however, acts as a lifeline that could potentially help them and their families out of hardship. When they are picked to attend a renowned sports academy abroad, their unlikely dream begins to materialize. This observational documentary makes clear that the young men carry the hopes of many on their shoulders.
2024
‘Copa 71’
Stream it on Kanopy or rent it on most major platforms.
Long before FIFA acknowledged women’s soccer, Mexico held an unofficial World Cup in 1971 that gathered female players from France, Argentina, England and other countries. Rarely seen footage and candid interviews with some of those pioneering athletes reconstruct that landmark event while also painting a larger picture of the hurdles women faced to carve out their own space in a sport dominated by men.
2022
‘Las Leonas’
Rent it on most major platforms.
Immigrant women, mostly from South America, share their experiences of living in Italy and serving as domestic workers or caretakers. It’s only when they are playing soccer, with one team in a local league dedicated to women like them, that they can temporarily forget about economic pressures and family responsibilities. While on the field, their struggles become secondary and the excitement for the match takes over.
2017
‘Men in the Arena’
Stream it on Tubi or rent it on most major platforms.
Somalia’s turbulent recent history, under the control of the terrorist group Al Shabab, is chronicled here through the lens of its soccer players, in particular Saadiq Mohammed and Sa’ad Hussein. Despite the violence and instability at home, a national team represents the country internationally. And that team ultimately served as route for Mohammed to get noticed and land a life-changing opportunity in the United States.
2014
‘Next Goal Wins’
Rent it on most major platforms.
In 2001, American Samoa suffered a brutal defeat in a soccer match against Australia, losing 31-0. A decade later, a new generation of players from the small territory tried to bring the national team out of the shadow of that episode. This documentary highlights their unwavering perseverance in spite of the odds. The story was adapted into the 2023 dramedy of the same name directed by Taika Waititi.
2021
‘Pelé’
Stream it on Netflix.
In his own words, the soccer legend, who died in 2022 at 82, recounts the path that led to his becoming his country’s greatest hero, and how that mantle can be a burden. His ascent to global stardom coincided with the rise of authoritarianism in Brazil, making his position even more challenging. Fellow players and others close to Pelé chime in with anecdotes about the gifted and charismatic man who united a nation during some of its darkest hours.
2018
‘The Workers Cup’
Rent it on most major platforms.
To build the infrastructure required to hold the 2022 World Cup, companies in Qatar hired thousands of workers from developing countries. The exploited men living in camps had few moments of recreation. A soccer tournament that their employers organized provides welcome camaraderie, and a small reprise from their grueling existence, as they contribute to an event that will profit from their labor.