Netflix drops massive football lineup for the World Cup 

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just days away from kicking off in Mexico City. While traditional networks hold the exclusive broadcasting keys for the live matches, streaming giant Netflix is not sitting on the sidelines. Instead, the platform is launching an aggressive counter-programming strategy, dropping a massive slate of football-themed documentaries, films, and an interactive video game to capture fans between the actual fixtures.

The centrepiece of this rollout is "FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition". Set to hit Netflix Games on 11 June – perfectly timed with the tournament's opening whistle – the game lets users play directly on their televisions. Players can take control of any of the 1,248 athletes across all 48 competing national teams and play inside 16 meticulously recreated real-world stadiums.

Beyond gaming, Netflix is heavily expanding its sports library with a wave of brand-new documentaries focusing on iconic players and infamous moments. Fans of individual brilliance can look forward to intimate portraits of football legends. "Ronaldinho: The One" promises unseen footage of the Brazilian maestro, while "Poldi" tracks the career of German fan-favourite Lukas Podolski.

The platform is also highlighting recent heroes, such as Argentine goalkeeper Emi Martinez in "The Kid Who Stops Time" and Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez, charting his journey since winning the 2014 Golden Boot. English football fans are getting their share too, with "Untold UK" episodes dedicated to Leicester City's ultimate underdog Jamie Vardy and the notorious on-pitch enforcer Vinnie Jones.

The streaming service is also tapping into the drama and controversies of past tournaments. "The Bus: A French Football Mutiny" investigates the scandalous meltdown of the French national squad during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Another docuseries, "Brazil '70: The Third Star", breaks down how a pressure-cooker environment forged arguably the greatest international team in history. Other fresh additions include the fictionalised "Mexico 86" and a deep dive into the legendary 2005 Champions League final with "Liverpool's Miracle of Istanbul".

This new wave of programming joins an already robust archive. Over the past few years, Netflix has steadily built a strong football catalogue. Viewers looking to binge can revisit acclaimed docuseries like "Beckham", "Captains Of The World", and "Pele". The platform also hosts gripping true-story dramatisations, such as "The Final Score", which covers the tragic murder of Colombian defender Andres Escobar following his 1994 own goal, alongside deep dives into Luis Figo's controversial transfer and the chaotic 2021 Euros final at Wembley.