The 15 Most Exciting Soccer Movies To Watch in 2025

The world of football is making its way to the big screen again in 2025, and we’ve rounded up the best soccer movies to watch.

Here are the most exciting soccer movies you can watch right now:

1. The Beautiful Game (2024)
2. U.S. Palmese (2024 / early 2025)
3. Fran the Man (2025)
4. The Pitch (2025 documentary)
5. Shaolin Soccer (2001)
6. Mean Machine (2001)
7. Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
8. Goal! The Dream Begins (2005)
9. Escape to Victory / Victory (1981)
10. The Damned United (2009)
11. Offside (2006)
12. The Two Escobars (2010)
13. Green Street Hooligans (2005)
14. Pelé: Birth of a Legend (2016)
15. Looking for Eric (2009)

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The Beautiful Game (2024)

The Beautiful Game (2024) is one of the most emotional and uplifting soccer films to watch right now.

It follows Vinny, a once-promising footballer now struggling with homelessness. When coach Mal Bradley invites him to join England’s team for the Homeless World Cup in Rome, Vinny is reluctant.

As the tournament unfolds, Vinny bonds with teammates from diverse backgrounds, including recovering addicts, refugees, and outsiders, all chasing one thing: a second chance.

The film tackles serious themes like addiction, poverty, immigration, and identity, but mixes them with humor, heart, and the magic of football.

From awkward romance to intense matches and emotional redemption, the story shows how the sport can unite and heal. Vinny’s journey from living in his car to helping South Africa win gold and inspiring the next generation is powerful.

U.S. Palmese (2024 / early 2025)

U.S. Palmese (2024 / 2025) is a fun Italian soccer comedy that fans should check out right now. Directed by the Manetti Bros., the film follows a farmer from the town of Palmi who launches a crazy fundraiser to buy a disgraced football star for his small local team, US Palmese 1912.

The story is full of local color, passion, and underdog energy. Inspired by a real memory from the directors’ childhood, it mixes small-town charm with big football dreams.

The cast speaks in the local dialect. Premiered at the Rome Film Festival and featured in Rotterdam, the movie has received praise for its feel-good vibe. While some critics felt it lacked originality, many agree it has the joy of football and community spirit.

Fran the Man (2025)

Fran the Man (2025) is a new football mockumentary that fans will enjoy watching right now. Stephen Bradley directs a film about Fran Costello, the hapless manager of a non-league Irish football team that is fighting to stay in the game.

Things take a wild turn when his underdog squad is drawn to face Shamrock Rovers, one of Ireland’s top clubs, in the FAI Cup. The film is based on the cult TV series Fran (2009–2011) and brings back Darragh Humphreys in the title role, alongside Ardal O’Hanlon and Amy Huberman.

Shot in Dublin and supported by Screen Ireland and RTÉ, the movie mixes awkward comedy, football madness, and pure Irish charm. It’s ideal for fans of shows like The Office and Ted Lasso.

The Pitch (2025 documentary)

The Pitch (2025) is a powerful new documentary that every soccer fan should see.

In this film directed by Michèle Hozer, Diana Matheson, a former Olympic soccer player for Canada, takes on the challenge of founding the Northern Super League, Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league.

After retiring from the game, Matheson takes on a new challenge, building something that will give young girls and female athletes a real path in the sport.

The film shows her determination, leadership, and the behind-the-scenes struggle to make women’s soccer bigger in Canada.

Set to premiere at the Atlantic International Film Festival, it will also be shown in select cities before airing on TVOntario.

Shaolin Soccer (2001)

Shaolin Soccer (2001) is an action-packed football comedy that’s still a fan favorite today.In this story, Sing, a kung fu master with little money, gathers his old Shaolin brothers to form a football team.

With the help of their ancient martial arts powers, they train under a former pro, Golden Leg Fung, who was once betrayed and injured by a corrupt teammate.

The team enters a big tournament and dominates with their crazy, over-the-top moves, until they face Team Evil, players enhanced by illegal drugs.

Just when things look hopeless, Mui, a shy woman skilled in Tai Chi, joins as a goalkeeper and helps them win the final with a jaw-dropping goal.

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Mean Machine (2001)

Mean Machine (2001) is a gritty and exciting football drama with the harsh realities of prison life. It stars Vinnie Jones as Danny Meehan, a former England captain jailed for assaulting police after a drunk driving incident.

Inside Longmarsh Prison, Danny’s football past makes him a target, both feared and hated by inmates and guards alike. Instead of coaching the guards’ team, Danny decides to train a group of inmates for a match against them.

With help from colorful characters like Massive and The Monk, he slowly earns the prisoners’ respect. The film builds up to a high-stakes match where loyalty, justice, and revenge all collide. Corrupt officers, gang politics, and a deadly plot threaten Danny’s shot at redemption, but football becomes the way out.

Bend It Like Beckham (2002)

Bend It Like Beckham is about Jess, an 18-year-old British Indian girl who loves football. Her parents want her to focus on school and family, not sports. Jess secretly joins a local women’s football team, the Hounslow Harriers, coached by Joe, a former player.

Jess’s skills grow, but her family finds out and disapproves. She faces challenges like racism and family pressure, but keeps playing. The team reaches the league final, which is on the same day as her sister Pinky’s wedding.

Jess’s father tells her to play, and she scores the winning goal. After the match, Jess and her friend Jules get offers for sports scholarships in the USA. In the end, her family slowly accepts her dream.

Goal! The Dream Begins (2005)

Goal! The Dream Begins follows Santiago Muñez, a young Mexican immigrant living in Los Angeles who dreams of playing professional football.

He works hard as a gardener and busboy while playing for his local team. A scout from Newcastle United, Glen Foy, notices Santiago and helps him get a trial with the club in England.

Despite setbacks, he works hard, makes friends, and earns a place on the team. Santiago struggles with personal loss when his father dies, but finds motivation through his relationship with the club nurse, Roz.

In the final game of the season against Liverpool, Santiago scores the winning goal that helps Newcastle qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Escape to Victory / Victory (1981)

Escape to Victory is about a group of Allied prisoners of war (POWs) who play a football match against a German team during World War II. The team is led by John Colby, a former professional footballer.

The match is meant to be a German propaganda stunt. Robert Hatch, an American POW, wants to escape and joins the team as a trainer to help with his plan.

The French Resistance helps plan an escape through tunnels during halftime. Hatch gets caught but manages to pass the escape plan back to the team.

Colby breaks the starting goalkeeper’s arm so Hatch can play. During the match, the German team cheats and tries to injure players, but the POWs fight back hard.

The game ends in a 4–4 draw, with Hatch saving a last-minute penalty. The crowd helps the POWs escape in the chaos, and they all break free to safety.

The Damned United (2009)

The Damned United tells the story of Brian Clough’s short and tough time as manager of Leeds United in 1974. Clough, a successful and confident coach, takes over after Don Revie leaves to manage England.

He does not like Leeds’ rough style of play and quickly causes tension with the players, especially team captain Billy Bremner. Clough’s old assistant, Peter Taylor, does not join him at Leeds. Clough tries new training methods, but the team struggles.

After a bad start to the season and problems with players, the club fired Clough after just 44 days. The film also shows Clough’s past successes with Derby County and hints at his future triumphs with Nottingham Forest.

Despite historical changes, the movie focuses on Clough’s strong personality and struggles. Michael Sheen’s performance as Clough received much praise.

Offside (2006)

Offside is an Iranian film by Jafar Panahi about girls who are not allowed to watch football games in Iran because of their gender. One girl dresses as a boy to sneak into a World Cup qualifying match between Iran and Bahrain.

She travels with male fans and buys an expensive ticket, but gets caught by security. She and the other girls are put in a holding area on the stadium roof, where they can’t see the match properly.

The soldiers guarding them don’t mind the girls but must follow orders. One girl tries to use the men’s toilet, causing funny chaos before she returns.

After the match, Iran wins 1–0, and everyone on the bus cheers. The main girl explains she didn’t care much about football but wanted to honor a friend who died during a past game. The film ends with a lively street celebration in Tehran.

Offside shows the challenges women face in sports and uses humor to tell its story.

The Two Escobars (2010)

The Two Escobars is a documentary soccer movie about the lives of Colombian soccer star Andres Escobar and drug lord Pablo Escobar. Though not related, their lives were closely connected.

Pablo Escobar was a powerful drug kingpin who used his money to support the Colombian national soccer team, making them South American champions and favorites for the 1994 World Cup.

During the World Cup, Andres accidentally scored an own goal against the USA, causing Colombia’s early exit. This mistake shocked the nation and led to tragic consequences, as Andres was murdered soon after.

The film shows how soccer, crime, and politics are mixed in Colombia during a time of violence and civil war. For Colombians, soccer was tied to their identity and pride.

Green Street Hooligans (2005)

Green Street Hooligans is a crime drama about football hooliganism in the UK. Matt Buckner, an American student, was kicked out of Harvard after being blamed for drugs he didn’t own.

He goes to London to visit his sister and meets her brother-in-law, Pete, who leads a football hooligan group called the Green Street Elite (GSE).

At first, Pete is unsure about Matt joining, but Matt soon proves himself by standing up in fights against rival firms. As Matt becomes part of the group, tensions rise between GSE and their rivals, the NGO.

Betrayal and violence lead to a deadly fight, where Pete is killed. Matt eventually returns home, changed by his experience with the football hooligans.

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Pelé: Birth of a Legend (2016)

Pelé: Birth of a Legend (2016) is a soccer movie about the early life of the famous Brazilian soccer player, Pelé. It shows his journey from playing in the streets of Brazil to leading his country to victory in the 1958 FIFA World Cup at just 17 years old.

The film focuses on Pelé’s relationship with his father and his dreams of becoming a football star. Despite facing challenges, including being teased for his skills, we saw Pelé’s talent, especially with his unique Brazilian Ginga playing style.

As Pelé grows, he joins Santos FC and earns a spot on the national team. With guidance from his coach, Vicente Feola, Pelé helps Brazil win its first-ever World Cup, defeating Sweden 5-2. The movie celebrates Pelé’s rise from humble beginnings to becoming one of the greatest players of all time.

Looking For Eric (2009)

Looking for Eric (2009) is a sports comedy-drama about Eric Bishop, a middle-aged postman who is going through a tough time. His life feels out of control as he tries to handle his troubled stepson, Ryan, who is involved with dangerous people.

Just when things seem hopeless, Eric starts having hallucinations of his football hero, Eric Cantona. Cantona, a former football star known for his wisdom, gives him advice to turn his life around.

With Cantona’s help, Eric gets the courage to face his family problems, including confronting his stepson about a hidden gun linked to a drug gang.

Things get intense, but Eric pulls off a clever plan with the help of his friends, all wearing Cantona masks, to teach the gangster a lesson. By the end of the film, Eric and his family are back together, finding peace at his daughter’s graduation.