Netflix has 10 documentaries coming in May 2026, with a big emphasis on stories from the world of football, especially ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Here is the complete list.
So far in 2026, Netflix has launched a series of excellent documentary features and series. We’ve listed the 10 best here. Looking to May 2026, more than half of the streamers’ new documentaries are based on football, and all but two are sports-adjacent. For non-sports fans, there’s the long-awaited arrival of the true-crime documentary Accident. Let’s go through all 10 that come our way.
For those in the United States, you will also be shown the Tribeca Film Festival documentary room to moveExecutive-produced by Amy Schumer. Netflix US will also be getting several more History Channel docu-drama series.
Countdown: Rousey vs. Carano
Coming to Netflix: 6th May
Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey and MMA legend Gina Carano hit training camp ahead of returning to the cage on May 16 in a fight that has been in the making for years. The fight will air live on Netflix from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, marking another big live sporting event for the streamer.
This documentary precursor is narrated by none other than Uma Thurman and directed by Tim Mullen and Jackie Decker.
USA 94: Brazil’s return to glory
Coming to Netflix: 7th May
No team in football history has won more FIFA World Cups than Brazil. From Pele to Ronaldinho, he has a knack for spotting some of the greatest footballers of all time. One of their most famous World Cup victories came in 1994, where they managed to defeat Italy in a penalty shootout. The documentary takes viewers back to their 1994 tournament, which was filled with dramatic eventual winners and penalty shootout finals.
It includes exclusive interviews as well as never-before-seen footage shot by the players themselves. If you need something to inspire you ahead of the 2026 World Cup, look no further!
Marty, life is short
Coming to Netflix: 11th May
Image Credit: Netflix
Comedian and actor Martin Short has had a lot of bad times so far in his career, which has earned him two Emmy Awards, two Actor Awards, and a Tony Award. His filmography spans decades and genres; perhaps he is best known for three amigos, father of the BrideAnd yes, recently Only murders in the building. In this documentary, Short takes a look at the life Max lived, taking viewers on a guided tour of his career with classic clips, exclusive interviews and never-before-seen home movies.
Candid and intimate, this is a must-see film for fans of Martin Short.
Untold UK: Jamie Vardy
Coming to Netflix: 12 may
Jamie Vardy went from being a relatively unknown lower league footballer to a Premier League-winning striker in just a few years. His rise is a testament to hard work, never giving up and the unpredictable nature of football. Vardy, 38, will become a Leicester City legend in 2025 after scoring 200 goals in 500 appearances for the club.
Outside of football, Jamie Vardy has become a major media personality with his wife Rebekah Vardy. His wife Rebekah would spark major controversy as a result of the ‘Wagatha Christie’ scandal.
This documentary explores Vardy’s life and career, with interviews from people including Rebekah Vardy, Nigel Pearson (Leicester manager), Wes Morgan (Leicester teammate), Mark Albrighton (Leicester teammate), Andy King (Leicester teammate), John Morris (Jamie Vardy’s agent), Brett Lovell (Stocksbridge teammate), Dave Rennie (Leicester head physio) and Rob Tanner. Including those who know them best. (Leicester football journalist).
Coming to Netflix: 13 may
During the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the entire French team went on strike and refused to enter the public training pitch. Why? All of this was in protest of the dismissal of superstar striker Nicolas Anelka, who was a key player at the time and one of the most iconic strikers of the era, having won the Premier League title and FA Cup with Chelsea. The infamous ‘Bus’ situation became a zeitgeist for a bad era of French football.
The incident sparked global headlines and national outrage. It was covered extensively at that time. But now, more than 15 years later, Netflix is revisiting the matter in hopes of a definitive observation.
Accident
Coming to Netflix: 15th May
Image Credit: News 5 Cleveland
strangely, Accident The only non-sports-related documentary is coming to Netflix in May 2026.
produced by Raw (don’t mess with cats), and directed by Gareth Johnson, Accident It takes an in-depth look at the tragic 2022 incident in which 17-year-old Ohio teen Mackenzie Schirilla intentionally drove into a brick building at 100 mph, killing both her boyfriend Dominic Russo and his friend Davian Flanagan. Shirilla was Convicted on 12 felony charges and ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole in 15 years.
In 2025, Shirilla was imprisoned in the Ohio Reformatory for Women. At sentencing, a judge called him “hell on wheels”, a phrase that has since become synonymous with the case.
This documentary evaluates the evidence and examines the conflicting stories surrounding the case.
Untold UK: Liverpool’s Istanbul miracle
Coming to Netflix: 19 may
Image Credit: Netflix
In 2005, Liverpool Football Club shook the sporting world with an unprecedented comeback against European titans AC Milan, staging one of the greatest football stories of all time after coming from three goals down.
The ‘Miracle of Istanbul’ has already been documented dozens of times – feature films have even been made about the return. Netflix’s UK version of Untold promises to be the definitive overview of the story, featuring those involved in the match, including Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Rafa Benitez, Xabi Alonso, Didi Hamman and others.
James.
Coming to Netflix: 21 may
Colombian footballer James Rodriguez is a strange case study. When he was a young footballer, he was one of the most coveted players on the planet, putting himself on every club’s radar by scoring a wonder goal at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil – a tournament for which he won the Golden Boot. He got his dream transfer to Real Madrid in 2014, playing almost a hundred games for Los Blancos. His career did not reach the same heights as other football greats, but he remains a legend of Colombian football.
This three-part documentary series explores his career, ups and downs, scandals and hopes for the 2026 World Cup.
Untold UK: Vinnie Jones
Coming to Netflix: 26 may
Vinnie Jones was far from your traditional footballer; He belongs in a category of his own. In the 80s and 90s, he played the game physically unlike anyone else, making him one of the toughest opponents.
Inspired by his fiery personality and fiery football style, Vinnie Jones later made the move from football to Hollywood, and it turned out to be a good thing. His acting career has been particularly revered, appearing in projects alongside industry stalwarts Brad Pitt and Stephen Graham. He became typecast as a ‘hard man’ in the film industry. Some of his most notable projects include Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), snatch (2000), and mean Machine (2001).
Vinnie Jones is starring alongside the people who know him best. Former footballers John Fashanu and Bobby Gould, as well as journalist and TV personality Piers Morgan provide testimonials.
Rafa
Coming to Netflix: 29 may
When you think of a great tennis player, chances are Rafa Nadal is the first name that comes to mind. The Spanish superstar ended the year ranked world No. 1 an unprecedented 5 times.
Narrated by Nadal himself, this documentary series examines his vast and illustrious career, his enduring legacy, and chronicles his final season on court. It includes never-before-seen archival footage and exclusive access to his personal life, creating a picture of not only who he was as a player, but who he is as a man.
The documentary also features former players and rivals Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and John McEnroe, who testify for Nadal.
Which of these documentaries should you be watching? Let us know in the comments below!
