In case you haven't heard the horns honking outside at all hours or seen all the flag-adorned cars driving around everywhere, the biggest World Cup in history is underway (I live in one of the host cities, Toronto, and it's non-stop).The 2026 edition is the first with 48 teams, 104 matches, and the first event to be co-hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.Yep, it's World Cup fever, but just in case the tournament leaves you craving more than just 90 minutes of action at a time, and you're curious for a deeper, sometimes grittier dive into the wider world of soccer (football to the rest of the world), the top streaming services have you sorted.
The five documentaries below—across Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Paramount+, and Tubi—include all-time greats and brand-new releases, tracing everything from the sport's origins to global obsession to how it finally caught on in the U.S.Here's what to watch between matches.The Two Escobars A story of soccer, cartels, and murder Several of my soccer-savvy friends recommended to me, all of them calling it one of the greatest sports documentaries ever made.
The ESPN 30 for 30 film tells the intense and insane story of tragedy for the Colombian soccer team at the 1994 World Cup.During an era known as "narco-soccer," drug cartel money was flooding the game in Colombia, the national team rose from obscurity to World Cup contender, with defender Andrés Escobar at the forefront and powerful drug lord Pablo Escobar (no relation) pulling the strings.When Andrés accidentally scores on his own goal during Colombia's World Cup match against the U.S., all hell breaks loose, culminating in Andrés' murder just days later.
Th is a haunting look at how sports, politics, and organized crime got so intertwined.This movie can currently be watched for free, with ads, on Tubi, or with a Disney+ bundle that includes ESPN. Quiz 8 Questions · Test Your Knowledge The greatest soccer players of all timeTrivia challenge From Pelé to Messi — see how well you know the legends who defined the beautiful game. LegendsRecordsTrophiesSkillsHistory Begin 01 / 8 Records Which player holds the record for the most international goals scored for a men's national team, surpassing 100 goals? ACristiano RonaldoBLionel MessiCAli DaeiDRomelu Lukaku Correct! Cristiano Ronaldo broke Ali Daei's long-standing record and became the first men's player to score over 100 international goals.
By 2023, he had pushed the tally past 120 goals for Portugal, a staggering feat of consistency at the highest level. Not quite.The answer is Cristiano Ronaldo, who shattered Ali Daei's record and surpassed 120 international goals for Portugal.Messi is also a prolific scorer for Argentina, but Ronaldo holds this particular all-time record. Continue 02 / 8 Legends Pelé is the only player in history to have won how many FIFA World Cup titles? ATwoBFourCThreeDOne Correct! Pelé won three FIFA World Cups with Brazil — in 1958, 1962, and 1970 — making him the only player ever to achieve this.
He remains the only individual to be part of three World Cup-winning squads, a record that has stood for over 50 years. Not quite.Pelé won three World Cups with Brazil: 1958, 1962, and 1970. No other player in history has won the tournament three times, cementing Pelé's status as arguably the greatest player who ever lived. Continue 03 / 8 Trophies Lionel Messi finally won the FIFA World Cup in 2022.Which country did Argentina defeat in the final? ABrazilBSpainCFranceDEngland Correct! Argentina defeated France in a dramatic final in Qatar, with the match ending 3–3 after extra time before Argentina won on penalties.
It was considered one of the greatest World Cup finals ever played, and it completed Messi's legendary career résumé. Not quite.Argentina defeated France in the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, in what many called the greatest final in tournament history.The match finished 3–3 after extra time, with Argentina ultimately prevailing in a penalty shootout. Continue 04 / 8 History Which Hungarian player, widely regarded as one of the greatest of the 1950s, was nicknamed 'The Galloping Major'? AFerenc PuskásBSándor KocsisCNándor HidegkutiDZoltán Czibor Correct! Ferenc Puskás earned the nickname 'The Galloping Major' owing to his rank in the Hungarian army and his explosive playing style.
He led Hungary's legendary 'Golden Team' of the 1950s and later became a star at Real Madrid, scoring 242 goals in 262 Liga appearances. Not quite.The answer is Ferenc Puskás, the Hungarian forward who was nicknamed 'The Galloping Major.' He was the driving force behind Hungary's dominant national team of the 1950s and went on to become one of the greatest scorers in Real Madrid's history. Continue 05 / 8 Skills Which Brazilian player, famous for his extraordinary dribbling, is often credited with popularizing the trick known as the 'Elastico' or 'flip-flap'? ARonaldinhoBRivaldoCRobinhoDSócrates Correct! Ronaldinho brought the Elastico — a lightning-fast feint where the foot pushes the ball one way then flicks it back the other — to global attention during his peak years at Barcelona in the mid-2000s.His flair and joy on the pitch made him one of the most beloved players in soccer history. Not quite.
The answer is Ronaldinho, the Brazilian magician who became world-famous for his jaw-dropping dribbling and tricks like the Elastico.His two Ballon d'Or wins and his Champions League triumph with Barcelona in 2006 cemented his legendary status. Continue 06 / 8 Records Which player has won the most Ballon d'Or awards in the history of the prize? ACristiano RonaldoBRonaldo NazárioCLionel MessiDMichel Platini Correct! Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or a record eight times as of 2023, including his eighth award following Argentina's 2022 World Cup victory.His long rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won it five times, drove both players to extraordinary heights over more than a decade. Not quite.
Lionel Messi holds the record with eight Ballon d'Or awards, the most in the history of the prize.Cristiano Ronaldo is his closest rival with five wins, and Michel Platini once held the record with three consecutive wins in the 1980s. Continue 07 / 8 Legends Johan Cruyff is closely associated with which revolutionary tactical system that changed modern soccer? ACatenaccioBGegenpressingCTotal FootballDTiki-taka Correct! Johan Cruyff was the ultimate embodiment of Total Football, the Dutch philosophy in which outfield players could interchange positions fluidly.He showcased it brilliantly with Ajax and the Dutch national team in the early 1970s, and his ideas later influenced the development of tiki-taka at Barcelona. Not quite.
The answer is Total Football, the revolutionary Dutch system that Cruyff personified.Developed at Ajax under coach Rinus Michels, Total Football allowed players to interchange positions freely, and Cruyff's intelligence and skill made it the most exciting tactical philosophy of its era. Continue 08 / 8 Trophies Ronaldo Nazário, often called 'R9,' won the FIFA World Cup twice.In which years did he win it? A1994 and 2002B1998 and 2002C1990 and 1994D1994 and 1998 Correct! Ronaldo was part of Brazil's 1994 World Cup squad, though he was very young and didn't feature in matches, and he was the undisputed star of the 2002 triumph, finishing as top scorer with eight goals.
His comeback story after serious knee injuries to win in 2002 is one of sport's greatest narratives. Not quite.Ronaldo won the World Cup in 1994 and 2002 with Brazil. Though he was a squad member in 1994 without playing, the 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea was his crowning glory — he scored twice in the final against Germany to claim the Golden Boot. See My Score Challenge Complete Your Score / 8 Thanks for playing! Try Again U.S.Against the World: Four Years With the Men's National Soccer Team Inside the U.S.
men's team's four-year road to 2026 Arriving on HBO Max just as the 2026 World Cup landed on U.S.soil for the first time since 1994, this five-part series is a remarkable document captured by a crew that was embedded with the U.S.men's soccer team for four years following their run at the 2022 World Cup.
With incredible access to the players, coaches Gregg Berhalter and Mauricio Pochettino, and major organizational members, rides along with Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, and Tim Weah, through training camps, qualifiers, and unguarded moments at home.It's a look at the sacrifices and work that goes into building a team that can compete on the global stage, at a time when soccer is having a moment in the U.S.Fire TV Stick 4K Operating System FireOS Resolution 4K $50 at Amazon $50 at Best Buy Expand Collapse Beckham The origin story of a global soccer icon This excellent four-part Netflix series was one of the most talked-about shows on the streaming service all year, when it debuted in 2023.
As famous off the pitch as he is on, David Beckham needs no introduction.But that didn't stop director Fisher Stevens from charting Beckham's rise from working-class East Londoner to soccer poster (and pretty) boy.It follows the superstar through his successes and failures—including how he dealt with that damning red card at the 1998 World Cup that made him a national villain—and through his move from Manchester United to Real Madrid and his high-profile marriage to a Spice Girl.
earned five Emmy nods and is a fascinating look at one of football's greats.Beckham TV-MA Biography Documentary Sports Release Date 2023 - 2023-00-00 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming Cast David Beckham, Victoria Beckham Directors Fisher Stevens Writers Alexander Hodgson Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Netflix Powered by Expand Collapse The Billion Dollar Goal How one 1989 goal built American soccer Keeping the focus on American soccer, this three-part Paramount+ documentary, aptly titled , replays a moment in team history that changed everything.In 1989, defender Paul Caligiuri scored a screamer of a long-range goal against Trinidad and Tobago, winning the game and sending the U.S.
team to the World Cup in Italy for the first time in 40 years.Using archival footage and animations, the docuseries also acts as a bit of a history lesson on the team, tracing its immigrant roots to a national pastime.It's an entertaining backstory that adds context to this summer's World Cup.
Roku Ultra $79 $99 Save $20 Operating System RkuOS Connectivity luetooth, Ethernet, HDMI, USB, Wi-Fi $79 at Amazon Expand Collapse The Root of the Game Where Brazilian soccer is actually born Swiping away the stacks of money, superstars, and stadiums that surround the world's biggest sport, the newest pick on our list trades it all for the dirt patches on the fringes of São Paulo.Premiering June 20, (a.k.a.) is a new Netflix limited series that delves into the passionate world of grassroots Brazilian soccer known as várzea.
With matches played on rough dirt and grass patches, and surrounded by crowds brandishing flags, flares, and playing music, várzea is widely considered the factory floor where Brazilian football is made.follows players and coaches as they fight to win the Super Copa Pioneer, São Paulo's largest amateur tournament.Netflix Subscription with ads Yes, $8/month Simultaneous streams Two or four Stream licensed and original programming with a monthly Netflix subscription.
Live TV No Price Starting at $8/month Visit Netflix Expand Collapse More than just a foot and a ball The more you delve into these documentaries and series, the more you learn about the deep global history of soccer/football and the sometimes crazy, mind-blowing, and inspirational stories behind them that often have nothing to do with the game itself.Whether you're a fan of the sport and deep into the World Cup, or just like a good, fascinating story, hopefully one of the above does the trick.Oh, and honorable mention goes out to a few more you should check out, too—HBO Max's , Paramount+'s , and the more artsy I've also curated a list of soccer-related movies and TV shows you might like, too.
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) Brand Apple Operating System tvOS Resolution 4K Ports HDMI $127 at Amazon See at bestbuy See at Target Expand Collapse
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