Top 10 World Cup Documentaries and Films to Stream — Best Soccer Movies Ranked

The World Cup's greatest moments have been captured on film for over six decades — from Asif Kapadia's Maradona portrait to the Mexico 1986 official tournament film. Below are 10 of the most acclaimed World Cup documentaries and football films, ranked by critical reception and cultural impact. Cast your vote for the one you think belongs at the top — or be the first to vote and set the benchmark!

2026547 viewsPublished Mar 15, 2026 Updated Aug 30, 2026

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#1
"Two Escobars" (2010)
This ESPN 30 for 30 film explores the intertwined stories of Colombia striker Andrés Escobar and drug lord Pablo Escobar, culminating in Andrés's tragic murder after scoring an own goal at USA 1994. Haunting and essential.
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#2
"Maradona" (2019)
Asif Kapadia's documentary uses 500 hours of unseen footage to tell the story of Diego Maradona's genius and turmoil. The 1986 World Cup at its center is treated as a masterpiece of sporting mythology.
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#3
"Pelé" (2021)
This 2021 Netflix documentary traces the Brazilian legend's journey from the 1958 World Cup triumph — when he was just 17 — through to his eventual global icon status, drawing on archival footage and firsthand interviews. A portrait of football's first global superstar.
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#4
"United Passions" (2014)
A controversial dramatization of FIFA's history, including World Cup founding moments. Widely criticized yet historically significant as a portrait of the organization's self-mythology around the tournament's origins.
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#5
"Take Us Home: Leeds United" (World Cup Episode, 2021)
The broader documentary series captures how World Cup qualification defines player careers and national identity — a theme explored through the English club's international contingent.
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#6
"FIFA World Cup Official Film: Mexico 1986"
The official tournament film captures Maradona's genius against the vivid backdrop of Mexico. His "Hand of God" and "Goal of the Century" against England are presented in their full contradictory glory.
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#7
"Icarus" (2017)
Though primarily about Olympic doping, this Oscar-winning Netflix documentary revealed systematic Russian state doping that has since cast shadows over multiple World Cup qualification campaigns.
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#8
"This Is Football" (2019)
Amazon Prime's anthology series dedicates episodes to World Cup history, exploring how the tournament intersects with politics, identity, and human drama far beyond the pitch.
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#9
"FIFA World Cup 2022: Official Film"
Qatar's official World Cup film documented the historic first Middle Eastern tournament, capturing Argentina's dramatic penalty shootout final victory and Messi's long-awaited coronation.
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#10
"Escape to Victory" (1981)
John Huston's classic fiction film starring Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, and Pelé dramatizes a match between Allied POWs and Nazi Germany. Pelé's overhead kick remains one of cinema's great sporting moments.
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Frequently Asked Questions About World Cup Documentaries

What is the best World Cup documentary? Critically, Asif Kapadia's *Maradona* (2019) and the ESPN 30 for 30 film *Two Escobars* (2010) are the most highly regarded entries on this list, earning widespread praise for depth of access and narrative craft.

Where can I stream these World Cup films? Many are on major platforms: *Pelé* and *Icarus* on Netflix, *This Is Football* on Amazon Prime Video, and *Two Escobars* on ESPN+. The official FIFA tournament films — including the Mexico 1986 and Qatar 2022 editions — are often available on the official FIFA YouTube channel.

Is *Escape to Victory* a true story? *Escape to Victory* (1981) is a fictional film loosely inspired by historical wartime football matches. It stars Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine alongside real footballers including Pelé.

Frequently Asked Questions About World Cup Documentaries

## What is considered the greatest World Cup documentary? Critics frequently cite the official FIFA tournament films (such as Mexico 1986) and Asif Kapadia's *Maradona* (2019) as benchmarks for World Cup documentary filmmaking.

## Are there official FIFA World Cup films? Yes. FIFA has produced an official tournament film for nearly every World Cup since 1962, including the widely praised Mexico 1986 edition and the Qatar 2022 official film.

## Which streaming services have the best World Cup documentaries? Netflix hosts *Pelé* (2021), *Maradona* (2019) and the Oscar-winning *Icarus* (2017); Amazon Prime carries *This Is Football* (2019); and ESPN's *30 for 30* library includes *The Two Escobars* (2010).

## What is the oldest World Cup film on this list? *Escape to Victory* (1981), starring Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine, is the oldest feature film included, though it is a fictional drama set during a WWII-era POW match rather than a documentary.

Image credits

"Two Escobars" (2010): Poster: All Rise Films via TMDB
"Maradona" (2019): Poster: Mini Studios via TMDB
"Pelé" (2021): Poster: Pitch Productions via TMDB
"United Passions" (2014): Poster: Thelma Films via TMDB
"Take Us Home: Leeds United" (World Cup Episode, 2021): Russell Crowe / Wikipedia
"FIFA World Cup Official Film: Mexico 1986": Bing Images / revistaculturel.com
"Icarus" (2017): Poster: Diamond Docs via TMDB
"This Is Football" (2019): José Mourinho / Wikipedia
"FIFA World Cup 2022: Official Film": Bing Images / wallpapers.ispazio.net
"Escape to Victory" (1981): Poster: Victory Company via TMDB