Five Football Movies to Watch During the World Cup

Have you noticed that there is a big international sports event going on right now? If you haven’t been made aware of the FIFA World Cup, you must be living under a rock, as news of the quadrennial tournament is just about everywhere at the moment. Over five billion people are expected to watch the action over the six weeks of competition, and thousands will be traveling to the US, Canada, and Mexico to watch the games live.

Now, you may not be a football fan or really watch sports of any kind, but you may discover that this tournament has a way of getting under the skin. The World Cup almost transcends football, with many people getting hooked by it and then largely forgetting about football again as soon as it ends.

If you are about to get carried away by the World Cup, you may have already been checking up on the players and teams, and may have even paid a visit to the Bovada sports betting site to make your own predictions. There are 104 games to be played during the tournament, but just in case you find yourself without any action to watch at any time, here are some football movies to keep you occupied until the next game starts.

Escape to Victory (1981)

First up, a classic that is equally adored and ridiculed. If you’ve ever thought that there are just not enough war/sports hybrid movies, then we have some news for you. This John Huston classic brings together a stellar cast of Hollywood A-listers and stars from the world of football (of the time) in a surprisingly good adventure film.

Michael Caine stars as the Allied POW who puts together a football team to take on the German camp guards in a game that will act as cover for a mass breakout. The likes of Pelé and Sylvester Stallone put on decent performances in a rousing tale of wartime heroics and football skill.

Offside (2006)

Our next selection could not be more different from Escape to Victory, as it follows a group of female football fans who want nothing more than to watch their team play in a World Cup qualifying game. Unfortunately for them, they are Iranian, and the government has a strict men-only attendance rule.

This critically-acclaimed comedy drama centers on the girls’ attempts to make it inside the Azadi Stadium in Tehran to cheer on their team against Bahrain and manages to convey the inherent absurdity of the situation as well as create a sense of genuine tension. A very political movie, the director was later arrested and banned from making films for two decades.

Shaolin Soccer (2001)

When it comes to films about football, it is usually the less-than-realistic action on display that ruins the story. But if the football isn’t supposed to be realistic in any way, the director is always going to have a much better chance of their movie being successful. That certainly seems to be the idea behind the making of Stephen Chow’s 2001 release.

Chow is also the lead character who reunites with his five brothers after their master’s death to use their superhuman Shaolin kung fu skills to play football as you have never seen the game played before. The action scenes are incredible and have helped Shaolin Soccer become a cult movie for anyone who enjoys martial arts films with a sports twist.

Bend it Like Beckham (2002)

Even if you know very little about football, you will probably know of David Beckham. He is now an MLS team owner and the face of what seems like at least a thousand products. Back when this film was released in 2002, however, Beckham was arguably the best footballer on the planet, and every young player wanted to be just like him.

This surprisingly forward-thinking comedy drama follows a young Sikh teenager, played by Parminder Nagra (later seen in ER), who goes against the wishes of her family in order to follow her passion for football. Keira Knightley is her friend who is also intent on upending social norms to play the game she loves and to be able to bend it like Beckham.

Zidane: A 21^st Century Portrait (2006)

We are all for wartime adventures, kung fu football, and coming-of-age movies, but if you really want to understand football on a more technical level, then Zidane: A 21^st Century Portrait is an excellent way to discover the intricacies of the sport. This movie might be a little too experimental for some, however.

Shot using 17 synchronized cameras situated around the stadium, this movie simply follows the iconic Zinedine Zidane as he plays a football match for his team, Real Madrid. Using just the music of rock band Mogwai and the atmosphere of the occasion, this masterpiece explores the mindset of Zidane, provided by subtitles, as he navigates his chosen profession. It is a startling insight into how the game is played at the highest level, and you simply won’t be able to look away for the entire 91-minute running time.

There are plenty more football movies to check out if you want to give yourself a good grounding in the sport during the World Cup. But there are also a lot of games to watch during the tournament, so these five should just about keep you going for the time being.