10 soccer films to set the vibe as fans arrive in Kansas City for FIFA World Cup

by David Newsom

Call it what you will, but the world’s game of football has arrived this summer at America’s football “Kingdom,” and it’s undoubtedly already being heralded as quite possibly the biggest “spotlight moment” in the history of Kansas City.

With that in mind, then, let’s prepare and get in the spirit of things by warming up to this game that the rest of the world embraces so fervently. Maybe you’re a novice to soccer,
or maybe you grew up playing the sport, or maybe you’re a die-hard fan of both the Kansas City Current and the Kansas City Sporting. Regardless, here are a handful of
films, from the United States and around the world, about this global sensation of soccer (or football, or futbol) for you to discover and enjoy.

Pelé (2021)

Director David Tryhorn and Ben Nicholas

What better way to start than with this Netflix-produced documentary on the life and career of Brazil’s legendary soccer star, Edson Arantes do Nascimento (better known to the world, obviously, by his nickname “Pelé’”)? Widely regarded as one of the greatest players to ever grace the game, this 2021 film traces his path from poverty to eventually becoming the superstar embraced the world over for his unmatched skill and finesse on the field. Perhaps it’s his record of scoring 1,279 goals in 1,363 games. Or maybe it’s his becoming the only player (to date) to win three World Cups (1958, 1962, and 1970, respectively). Or it could be how he was named, in 1999, the Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee. Whichever way you look at it, Pele’ was one-of-a-kind.

The Damned United (2009)

Director Tom Hooper

This British drama details the disastrous 44-day tenure of Brian Clough, who in 1974 took over as manager of the British football team, Leeds United (despite his outright hatred for them). Michael Sheen stars (brilliantly) as Clough and is supported by other such notable British actors as Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney, and Jim Broadbent.

Fever Pitch (1997)

Director David Evans

Loosely based on British author Nick Hornby’s bestselling 1992 memoir, Fever Pitch: A Fan’s Life, this film is not to be confused with the largely underwhelming American reimagining of Hornby’s book. That film (also by the same title) stars Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore and sees its action revolving around the game of baseball, as well as a budding romance between Barrymore and her boyfriend (Fallon), an obsessive Boston Red Sox fan. All of this, of course, is subverted from Evans’ original British take on the book: In this film—the original—the young couple is played by Colin Firth and Ruth Gemmell, and the object of obsession is, of course, fittingly, the Arsenal Football Club’s First Division championship-winning season in 1988-89. (See this film. Ignore the Americanized remake.)

Shaolin Soccer (2001)

Director Stephen Chow

What an incredible romp this movie is. Playing the dual-roles of both director and star of the film, Chow serves up a wildly entertaining blend of comedy, Hong Kong-style martial arts action, and sports drama. Chow plays a former Shaolin monk who puts together a rag-tag soccer team of his fellow monks. Together, they use their martial arts skills on the playing field to become the team to beat in a national tournament. Non-stop, over-the-top action and humor cemented this film 25 years ago as a cult classic. It still deserves that status.

Bend It Like Beckham (2002)

 Director Gurinder Chadha

Even if you know next to nothing about the game of soccer, chances are you’ve either heard of this film, you’ve seen it, or you were around to remember the sensation it caused upon its release in 2002. Without a doubt, one of the biggest breakout “underdog” films of that year, Bend It Like Beckham introduced us to its young star Parminder Nagra as Jess Bhamra, a young British-Indian woman who dreams of playing professional soccer. Alongside her, of course, is her best friend Jules Paxton (played delightfully by a young Keira Knightly). An unashamed crowd-pleaser, this film was a massive hit, and deservedly so.

The Beautiful Game (2024)

Director Thea Sharrock

Another Netflix-produced film, this drama centers on Bill Nighy as a British soccer coach who assembles a team of homeless individuals to learn the game of soccer and to take part in the Homeless World Cup, played in Rome. Michael Ward also stars a young gifted (albeit troubled) player who could either shine and lead the team to victory or arrogantly let the team lose and crumble in defeat. (I’ll give you one guess what happens….)

Kicking and Screaming (2005)

Director Jesse Dylan

Understandably, Will Ferrell is a divisive comedic actor. He can either be side-splittingly hilarious or mind-numbingly annoying with his recurring “man-child” routine. (And sometimes he may even be both in the same film.) Whatever the case, this 2005 guilty pleasure sees Ferrell as Phil Weston, a mild-mannered father who takes on the task of coaching his young son’s underdog soccer team. To complicate matters, of course, Ferrell is pitted against a dreaded opposing team, coached by his hyper-competitive father (played by the late, great Robert Duvall). To top it all off, the film also boasts a surprise appearance by none other than Mike Ditka—“’da Coach,” himself—playing a supporting role as an assistant coach. (That alone makes it worth watching this movie.)

Goal! (2005)

Director Danny Cannon

Also going by the longer title, Goal! The Dream Begins, this film is a sports drama centering on Santiago Munez, a Mexican immigrant in Los Angeles who is given a chance to play professional soccer for England’s soccer team, Newcastle United.

Offside (2006)

Director Jafar Panahi

An Iranian film which was met with much acclaim upon its release, this story involves a group of young Iranian women who decide to dress up as boys and sneak into a World Cup qualifying soccer game in Tehran, where women are banned from attending. The film’s director, Panahi, was inspired by his own daughter and her brave, outward defiance of the ban. A winner of the coveted Silver Bear award at the 2006 Berlin Film Festival, Panahi’s film remains illegal in his home country. But it’s a wonderful, uplifting little movie.

Victory (1981)

Director John Huston

Also known—in England, particularly—by the title Escape to Victory, this film tells the story of Allied prisoners in a German POW camp who agree to take part in a Nazi propaganda spectacle put on by their captors: a soccer match between the prisoners and a German soccer team. Of course, the prisoners intend to use the game as cover for an escape plan; but also, of course, the prisoners’ pride in winning against the German team begins to take root…. Boasting the talents of its legendary director, John Huston (The Maltese Falcon, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The African Queen, Key Largo, The Misfits, etc.), the film also rests heavily on its cast, made up of a mix of professional actors and professional soccer players. Key among the performers is Michael Caine, Max von Sydow, a young Sylvester Stallone—basking in his early post-Rocky glory days—and none other than the master, Pele’, himself. (To bring everything full circle….)

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