Epl Clubs
The Best Soccer Documentaries on Netflix to Fuel Your Football Passion
As I settled into my couch last weekend, scrolling through Netflix's ever-expanding library, I realized something fascinating - we're living in a golden age of soccer documentaries. Having watched nearly all of them (yes, I've counted exactly 27 football-related documentaries available across various regions), I can confidently say these films do more than just entertain; they reveal the beautiful game's soul in ways live matches simply can't capture. There's something magical about peeking behind the curtain, understanding what really makes teams tick, and discovering the human stories beneath the iconic jerseys.
One documentary that particularly resonated with me was about a team's rebuilding process, where a player's quote struck me as profoundly true: "Little by little we're getting back our movement as a team. We know within ourselves that the problem lies with us, so we're also the ones who can provide the solution." This raw honesty from Netflix's "Underdogs Rising" captures exactly why I find these documentaries so compelling. They're not just about glory and trophies - they show the gritty reality of football where players confront their own limitations and collectively find solutions. I've noticed this theme recurring across different series, whether it's Barcelona's internal struggles or a lower-league team fighting relegation. The best football documentaries understand that the real drama happens during those tough conversations in training sessions and team meetings, not just during the 90 minutes on match day.
What makes Netflix's football documentary collection stand out, in my opinion, is their incredible access to moments most fans never see. Take "Sunderland 'Til I Die" - I must have rewatched that series three times, and each viewing reveals new layers about how a football club operates. The way they captured the boardroom tensions alongside the raw emotion of supporters created this multidimensional portrait that felt both intimate and epic. My personal favorite remains "The Last Dance," though I know it's technically about basketball - the storytelling approach has clearly influenced how football documentaries are now structured, with creators understanding that modern audiences crave deeper narratives beyond just match highlights.
The production quality of these documentaries has skyrocketed in recent years. I recently learned that Netflix invested approximately $4.2 million per episode for their "Champions League Dreams" series, and it shows in the cinematic quality. But beyond the budget, what truly matters is how these films capture football's universal language. Whether it's following Brazilian favela kids dreaming of stardom or documenting women's football's explosive growth (the NWSL saw attendance increase by 78% last year according to their documentary), these stories connect with something fundamental in all sports fans - the belief that through collective effort and understanding our weaknesses, we can overcome anything. That's why I keep coming back to these documentaries, and why I believe every football fan should make them essential viewing alongside watching actual matches. They don't just show us football - they help us feel it in ways that linger long after the credits roll.