Club Benefits
The biggest sporting event on the planet is almost here. We’re just two weeks away from the 2026 World Cup, and anticipation levels are building across the globe. The United States, Mexico and Canada are jointly hosting this year’s installment of the quadrennial soccer tournament. If you’ve got World Cup fever, the two-week wait might seem a little torturous.
That’s where the best soccer movies and TV shows can help, giving you a much-needed distraction to make the countdown to kick off just a little bit easier. Or perhaps you want to get a sense of why soccer (football to most of the world) is viewed as the pinnacle of sporting entertainment by billions of people globally. These shows and movies explore drama on the pitch (and off it) and are worth streaming ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
‘Dear England’
Is England going to win the World Cup? Probably not, but this BBC drama showcases the renewed spirit within the Three Lions squad brought about by former manager Gareth Southgate. He turned the England team from an international punchline into genuine contenders. This four-part drama is adapted from the successful stage production of the same name and explores Southgate’s narrative-changing time in charge from 2018 to 2024.
Joseph Fiennes plays Southgate, and it’s spooky how accurately he captures the real-life figure. However, some of the other actors playing footballers like Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling look distractingly unlike their real-life counterparts. Nevertheless, this rousing sporting drama chronicles Southgate’s mission to reverse the team’s fortunes while also healing his own mental scars after missing a key penalty at Euro ‘96.
Watch "Dear England" on BBC iPlayer (in the U.K.) now
‘Saipan’
Sometimes the juiciest drama at a World Cup comes before a ball is even kicked. That was the case in 2002, when the underdog Irish team arrived at the competition without their talismanic player, former Man Utd captain and now pundit Roy Keane. But it wasn’t because Keane was injured, but rather he had an extraordinary bust-up with manager Mick McCarthy during the pre-World Cup camp and was sent home.
“Saipan” takes this true soccer story and turns it into a compelling psychological drama. Anchored by a fantastic performance from Éanna Hardwicke as Keane, alongside Steve Coogan as McCarthy, it’s a tale of clashing egos, fragile masculinity, and the weight of carrying the expectations of a nation on your shoulders. It’s not just a good soccer movie, but a great movie, one that more people need to watch.
Watch "Saipan" on Prime Video (buy/rent) now
‘Goal’
“Goal” is perhaps the quintessential soccer movie for an entire generation. It’s so ubiquitous that it’s been referenced by real-life pros in interviews. While “Goal 3” takes place at the 2006 World Cup, it’s woeful, whereas the original has developed a cult following. Plus, cards on the table: the first “Goal” movie revolved around a South American player signing for my own club, Newcastle United, in the Premier League, so it was always going to be my pick.
Santiago Muñez (Kuno Becker) is an undocumented Mexican immigrant working with his father (Tony Plana) in Los Angeles. He dreams of becoming a professional soccer player, despite his father's insistence that it’s an unrealistic ambition. When Santiago gets an unexpected chance to sign for Newcastle United in the cold and rainy North East of England, he leaves his home and family behind to pursue his dream despite the hurdles in his way.
Watch "Goal" on Fandango now
‘Welcome to Wrexham’
“Welcome to Wrexham” might have converted just as many Americans into soccer fans as the country hosting the World Cup will. This Hulu documentary has turned a no-name club from a small Welsh town into a global player with more fans (and international name recognition) than many Premier League teams. “Welcome to Wrexham” takes viewers along for the ride as Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, formerly McElhenney, invest in the club and attempt to turn things around.
Currently airing its fourth season, the documentary opens with Wrexham A.F.C. competing in the National League, the fifth tier of English football (commonly referred to as “non league”, yes, English league names are confusing). With Reynolds and Mac barely understanding the offside rule, they’ve got their work cut out for them as co-owners. The series is also much lauded for celebrating the town of Wrexham as much as chronicling the on-pitch highs and lows.
Watch "Welcome to Wrexham" on Hulu now
‘The Damned United’
‘The Damned United’ is perhaps the most critically acclaimed entry on this list, with a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes. This sports drama movie chronicles a testing time in United’s history, and I don’t mean Manchester United. This film covers Brian Clough’s disastrous 44-day stint as manager of Leeds United in 1974. Michael Sheen plays Clough, and while the historical accuracy of “The Damned United” has been disputed, what’s not in question is its quality.
In 1974, after beloved Leeds gaffer Don Revie (Colm Meaney) is appointed England manager, former Derby County boss Brian Clough (Sheen) is called up as his replacement. However, Clough harbors a grudge against Revie and declares the Leeds side he built a bunch of “cheats.” It’s not a great way to endear yourself to your new squad and the fanbase, and Clough’s short-lived tenure at Leeds only goes downhill from there.
Watch "The Damned United" on the Roku Channel now
‘Bend It Like Beckham’
The growth of the women’s game in recent years has been rapid and extremely welcome, which only makes this 2002 comedy feel even more worthwhile. It comes from director Gurinder Chadha, and while the name might suggest it's centered on David Beckham, it’s actually an underdog story about two young friends trying to make it as professional footballers.
Jesminder "Jess" Bhamra (Parminder Nagra) is an 18-year-old living in West London, and obsessed with soccer. When she meets and befriends Jules (Keira Knightley), Jess finds herself invited to play for a local women’s amateur team. It could be the first step on the route to making it as a pro. However, their plans are jeopardized by her traditional parents, who don’t view football as a worthwhile pursuit and want her to focus on her studies.
Watch "Bend it Like Beckham" on Disney+ now
‘Ted Lasso’
You can’t talk about soccer-themed movies and TV shows without including “Ted Lasso.” This Apple TV original became a smash hit when it premiered in 2020, and despite appearing to wrap up with its third season in 2023, it’s returning for a fourth outing in a matter of months. Starring Jason Sudeikis as the titular Lasso, it’s a fish-out-of-water tale that is crammed full of boundless optimism and lovable supporting characters.
Ted Lasso (Sudeikis) is a college football coach hired by a fictional) struggling English soccer team, A.F.C. Richmond, as their new coach. It’s a curious choice as Lasso doesn't know the first thing about the beautiful game. However, club owner Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) doesn’t exactly have the team’s best interest at heart. Also starring Brett Goldstein, Juno Temple, and Nick Mohammed, “Ted Lasso” is an easy comfort watch, even if I personally think the quality dropped off very hard by season 3.
Watch "Ted Lasso" on Apple TV now
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