The best football documentaries to stream in 2026 include All or Nothing: Manchester City, Amazon Prime's behind-the-scenes series on Pep Guardiola's 2017/18 title-winning season; Netflix's Sunderland 'Til I Die, three series following Sunderland AFC through their League One years; Take Us Home: Leeds United, on Marcelo Bielsa's 2018/19 Championship campaign; Welcome to Wrexham, about Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney rebuilding the club; and Maradona in Mexico. For football films, The Damned United and Bend It Like Beckham are worth revisiting.
The modern football documentary has become a genre unto itself. From fly-on-the-wall dressing room access to sweeping historical retrospectives, the best football docs offer something the live match cannot — context, reflection, and the full emotional arc of a story. Here are the best available to US viewers right now.
Essential Football Documentaries
All or Nothing: Manchester City
Amazon Prime's behind-the-scenes series following Pep Guardiola's City during their title-winning 2017/18 season is the gold standard for football documentaries. Unprecedented dressing room access and brilliant editing make this required viewing for any football fan regardless of your club.
Sunderland 'Til I Die
Netflix's devastating, funny, and genuinely moving documentary following Sunderland AFC through their League One years is one of the best sports documentaries ever made. Three series covering one of the most dramatic falls from grace in English football history.
Take Us Home: Leeds United
Amazon Prime followed Leeds United during their 2018/19 Championship campaign under Marcelo Bielsa. Beautiful, tense, and perfectly captures the madness of following a Championship club with Premier League expectations.
Welcome to Wrexham
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's documentary series about buying and rebuilding non-league Wrexham AFC has become genuinely addictive television. Four seasons charting the club's rise from National League to League One.
Maradona in Mexico
Diego Maradona's bizarre, chaotic stint as manager of second-division Sinaloa club Dorados de Sinaloa. Unmissable — funny, sad, and genuinely gripping.
Classic Football Films Worth Revisiting
- The Damned United — Michael Sheen as Brian Clough at Leeds United. Brilliant.
- When Saturday Comes — Sean Bean as a Sheffield United dreamer. Pure nostalgia.
- Bend It Like Beckham — Still charming, still relevant, and a perfect time capsule of early 2000s England.
- Escape to Victory — Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, and Pelé. Football cinema doesn't get more gloriously absurd.
Highlights Shows Worth Watching
Goals on Sunday and Soccer Saturday air on Sky Sports in the UK, and Match of the Day is on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. What you can watch depends on the rights where you live, so check the broadcaster in your country first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Sunderland 'Til I Die?
Sunderland 'Til I Die is a Netflix original, so it streams on Netflix.
Where can I watch Match of the Day catch-up in the USA?
Match of the Day is on BBC iPlayer, which is only available in the UK. In the USA, Premier League highlights air on the rights holder's channels and apps rather than the BBC.