The 7 best World Cup films ever, according to the soccer film experts (read: us)
The Men’s World Cup is here!
Which, of course, means plenty of World Cup film lists are floating around.
Since we like to think we know a thing or two about great soccer films, we thought we’d share some our favorite Men’s World Cup films — all of which have screened K+S at some point.
We’ve looked for streaming options for these films, but many are just not available in the US. (Some might be online somewhere, but you didn’t hear that from us.)
Les Yeux dans les Bleus
Before Hard Knocks and All or Nothing, director Stephane Meunier showed what life was truly like inside a team. This up-close-and-personal view of France’s World Cup win in 1998 goes inside player’s rooms, private meetings, and team meals.
The scene alone with Zinedine Zidane in the locker room after he gets a red card is pure sports-doc gold.
American Fútbol
Four American friends embark on an epic soccer adventure through Central and South America. With the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as their final destination, they embrace the passionate fútbol culture of Latin America — and supercharge their own passion to support the US national team.
Rent on Amazon.
One Night in Turin
Gary Lineker's goals. David Platt's volley. Paul Gascoigne's tears. Chris Waddle’s missed penalty. This was England at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
Director James Erskine’s film recalls all the joy and pain of the run to the semis, interwoven with the political context of Thatcherism and the specter of hooliganism.
The early ‘90s soundtrack is brilliant, and Gary Oldman is the narrator.
Game of Their Lives
Directed by Daniel Gordon (FIFA Uncovered), this feature doc tells the story of the North Korean team that competed at the 1966 World Cup.
The squad of unknowns stunned Italy before disappearing back home.
Gordon brilliantly interweaves the historical account with his attempts to meet the seven surviving players in North Korea.
Rent on Vimeo.
Tres Millones
Filmmaker Yamandu Roos and his father, Jaime Roos, a famous Uruguayan singer, travel to South Africa to follow Uruguay’s talented team at the 2010 World Cup.
Roos’s fame gets them access to the likes of Edinson Cavani, Diego Forlán, and Luis Suárez as La Celeste reach the semifinals.
Ultimately, though, this is a story of a father and son and a shared passion music, stories, and fútbol.
One: The Story of a Goal
As El Salvador descended into civil war in the early 1980s, the national team stunningly earned a berth in the 1982 World Cup.
The internal politics and corruption that ensued crushed any notions of a Cinderella story for the team. And they lost 10-1 to Hungary in their opener.
But none of that can dampen El Salvador’s enduring pride about that team’s unlikely achievement.
Watch on YouTube (Spanish).
Mundial: The Highest Stakes
A retelling of the Poland’s 3rd place finish at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, achieved against the backdrop of martial law back home.
The team were unable to prepare properly because of the politics, but the talent of Boniek, Młynarczyk, Smolarek, and others were not to be denied.
And the fans in Madrid and Barcelona embraced the team and the global pro-Solidarity movement burst into view in the stadiums.