The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11 — and Netflix isn’t wasting a single second of the build-up. From Brazilian heartbreak to French political scandal, from Liverpool miracles to Neymar’s redemption arc, the streaming giant has lined up one of the most ambitious sports content slates in its history. Here’s every football show, documentary, and movie dropping on Netflix before, during, and after the World Cup — and why each one deserves your attention.
Table of Contents
Complete Netflix Football Content — Release Dates & Details
| Title | Genre | Release Date | Key Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA ’94: Brazil’s Return to Glory | Documentary | May 2026 | Brazil squad, Italian rivals |
| The Bus: A French Football Mutiny | Documentary | May 13 | Thierry Henry, Anelka, Évra |
| Untold UK: Jamie Vardy | Documentary | May 12 | Vardy, Ranieri |
| Untold UK: Liverpool’s Miracle of Istanbul | Documentary | May 19 | Gerrard, Carragher, Benitez |
| Untold UK: Vinnie Jones | Documentary | May 26 | Vinnie Jones, Piers Morgan |
| Brazil ’70: The Third Star | Drama Miniseries | May 29 | Rodrigo Santoro |
| Mexico ’86 | Drama-Comedy Film | June 8 | Diego Luna |
| The Root of the Game | Documentary | June 8 | Raphinha, Cafu |
| The Rest Is Football | Video Podcast | June 12 | Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer |
| Neymar-Santos Documentary | Documentary | Late 2026 | Neymar Jr. |
| The 99ers | Drama Film | 2027 | Zoey Deutch, Emily Bader |
1. 🇧🇷 USA ’94: Brazil’s Return to Glory
Brazil’s comeback at the 1994 World Cup — hosted on American soil just like this year’s tournament — is the subject of this immersive documentary. The big attraction is the use of videotaped archives of training sessions recorded by the players themselves, offering a raw, behind-the-scenes look into the doubts, pressure, and eventual triumph that ended Brazil’s 24-year title drought.
2. 🇫🇷 The Bus: A French Football Mutiny — May 13
This is the one that reads like a political thriller. The 2010 French national team’s strike during the World Cup — triggered by coach Raymond Domenech’s decision to bench Nicolas Anelka — escalated into a scandal that took a political turn for the entire nation. Featuring interviews with Thierry Henry, Patrice Évra, William Gallas, and even former ministers, Netflix VP Pauline Dauvin called it something to be experienced like a thriller. Cannot wait.
3. 🏴 Untold UK: Jamie Vardy — May 12
An exclusive look at former Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, tracing his steps from a part-time player in Sheffield to his improbable rise to win the Premier League under coach Claudio Ranieri. fotmob One of sport’s greatest underdog stories — and it deserves the full documentary treatment.
4. 🏆 Untold UK: Liverpool’s Miracle of Istanbul — May 19
This one needs no introduction. After trailing 3-0 at halftime in the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan, Liverpool mounted a historic comeback — and this documentary features exclusive interviews with players including Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Xabi Alonso, and Rafa Benitez fotmob to chronicle every psychological twist of that iconic night.
5. 💪 Untold UK: Vinnie Jones — May 26
While Vinnie Jones is now a go-to Hollywood tough guy for directors like Guy Ritchie, this documentary focuses on his rise from working the fields in Wealdstone to his controversial “Hard Man” reputation on the pitch during the 1980s and 1990s. fotmob Gritty, honest, and unmissable.
6. 🌟 Brazil ’70: The Third Star — May 29
The 1970 World Cup win immortalised legends like Pelé and made Brazil the first team to win three titles. fotmob This premium drama miniseries, produced by O2 Filmes — the team behind City of God fotmob — promises an epic behind-the-scenes look at that legendary squad battling both internal pressure and national political turmoil.
7. 🇲🇽 Mexico ’86 — June 8
This film follows Martín De La Torre — played by Diego Luna — who in 1986 successfully maneuvered to bring the World Cup to Mexico after Colombia forfeited its hosting duties. fotmob A stranger-than-fiction story that drops just as this year’s tournament begins.
8. 🌱 The Root of the Game — June 8
This documentary explores São Paulo’s largest amateur tournament — the Super Copa Pioneer — described as the breeding ground from which global stars like Raphinha and Cafu emerged. fotmob A love letter to grassroots Brazilian football.
Also read: 2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule, Teams & Predictions — TechnoSports
9. 🎙️ The Rest Is Football — June 12
As part of Netflix’s push into video podcasts, Gary Lineker and co-hosts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards will deliver daily World Cup commentary from New York, alongside unannounced special guests. fotmob Daily football analysis — on Netflix. That’s a first.
10. 🇧🇷 Untitled Neymar-Santos Documentary — Late 2026
This documentary follows Neymar Jr. as he returns to his boyhood club Santos during a period of crisis following the club’s first-ever relegation — a deeply personal story that promises real emotional depth from one of football’s most polarising figures.
11. 🏅 The 99ers — 2027
Currently in production, this drama film centers on the iconic 1999 US Women’s National Team, with Emily Bader playing Mia Hamm and Zoey Deutch as executive Marla Messing fotmob — a story of triumph that continues to resonate nearly three decades later.
Also read: Best Sports Documentaries to Watch on Netflix Right Now — TechnoSports
FAQs
Q1. When does the 2026 FIFA World Cup start, and will Netflix cover it live?
The FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11, 2026, and Netflix will launch The Rest Is Football as a daily video podcast from New York starting June 12 fotmob — offering daily analysis and commentary hosted by Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards.
Q2. Which Netflix football documentary releases first in May 2026?
The first to drop is Untold UK: Jamie Vardy on May 12, followed by The Bus: A French Football Mutiny on May 13 fotmob — making mid-May the hottest fortnight for football fans on Netflix this year.
