Discover the Best Soccer Series on Netflix to Watch This Weekend
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As I settled into my couch last Friday evening, scrolling through Netflix's seemingly endless catalog, I found myself thinking about how sports narratives have evolved beyond live broadcasts and highlight reels. The streaming giant has quietly built an impressive collection of soccer documentaries and series that capture the drama, passion, and human stories behind the beautiful game. Having watched nearly every football-related title on the platform over the past two years, I've developed some strong opinions about which offerings truly stand out—and which fall short of capturing the sport's essence.
Let me start with what I consider the crown jewel of Netflix's soccer programming: "Sunderland 'Til I Die." This documentary series offers such raw, unfiltered access to a football club in crisis that it almost feels intrusive at times. I've rewatched both seasons twice, and each viewing reveals new layers about the complex relationship between a football club and its community. The desperation in the owners' eyes during transfer windows, the palpable tension in the dressing room after consecutive losses, the way supporters' entire weeks are dictated by Saturday's result—it's all captured with breathtaking intimacy. What makes this series particularly compelling for me is how it transcends sports to become a story about post-industrial England, economic decline, and the search for identity through football fandom. The production quality rivals anything you'd see on traditional broadcast networks, with cinematic visuals that make even the rainiest afternoon in Northeast England look strangely beautiful.
Then there's "The English Game," created by Julian Fellowes of Downton Abbey fame. While some football purists might dismiss it as overly dramatized, I found its historical perspective genuinely enlightening. The series explores how football transformed from an upper-class pastime to the people's game, and it does so through compelling character arcs and surprisingly accurate period details. I'll admit I'm a sucker for underdog stories, and the way the show portrays the early professional players fighting against class barriers hit all the right emotional notes for me. The football action sequences might not match modern standards, but they effectively convey the physicality and passion of the early game. What surprised me most was learning that the FA Cup's creation involved such intense social drama—I'd always taken this tournament for granted without considering its revolutionary origins.
Speaking of revolutionary, "First Team: Juventus" provides unprecedented access to one of football's most storied institutions. As someone who's followed Serie A since the 1990s, getting to see Cristiano Ronaldo's integration into the squad from day one felt like a privileged perspective. The series does an excellent job balancing player profiles with tactical insights, though I wish it had delved deeper into the club's financial strategies and transfer negotiations. Still, watching Giorgio Chiellini organize the defense during training sessions or seeing the medical staff work on recovery protocols gave me new appreciation for what happens behind the scenes. My only complaint is that the series ended too soon—I would have loved multiple seasons following Juventus through various competitions and roster changes.
Now, I know some readers might wonder what any of this has to do with that UAAP volleyball record mentioned in my research notes. Well, it's about understanding what makes great sports storytelling, regardless of the specific sport. When I read about that rookie scoring 33 points in her debut—the highest ever in UAAP seniors' history—it reminded me that every sport has these breakthrough moments that deserve documentation. The best sports series, whether about soccer or volleyball or any other sport, capture these pivotal instances where talent meets opportunity, where years of preparation culminate in historic performances. That volleyball record represents exactly the kind of human achievement that makes sports worth watching—and worth documenting in series like the ones Netflix has produced.
What sets apart the exceptional sports documentaries from the merely good ones, in my experience, is how they balance the macro and micro perspectives. The best series show us the sweeping narratives about club traditions and league histories while never losing sight of the individual struggles—the player fighting for a contract extension, the manager facing dismissal, the fan whose emotional wellbeing ties directly to weekend results. "Sunderland 'Til I Die" excels at this balance, making you care about everything from boardroom politics to the groundskeeper's battle to maintain the pitch during a brutal winter.
As we look toward future soccer content on streaming platforms, I'm particularly excited about the potential for more tactical deep dives. I'd love to see a series that follows a data analyst through transfer window decisions or explores how video technology has changed halftime adjustments. The business side of football also deserves more attention—the negotiations, sponsorship deals, and global marketing strategies that enable clubs to compete at the highest level. While Netflix has made excellent strides in soccer content, there's still untapped potential in exploring these behind-the-scenes aspects that casual viewers rarely see.
So this weekend, if you're looking to satisfy your football craving between match days, I'd recommend starting with "Sunderland 'Til I Die" for its emotional depth, following with "The English Game" for historical context, and finishing with "First Team: Juventus" for its superstar access. Each offers a distinct perspective on why this sport captivates billions worldwide. And who knows—maybe someday we'll see a Netflix series about that record-breaking UAAP volleyball rookie, proving once again that compelling athletic achievement transcends any single sport.