The 18 Best Anime About Soccer

Blue Lock is arguably one of the most unique anime on this list. Most sports anime are notable for their teamwork, but Blue Lock focuses on the exact opposite - the characters in this series are encouraged to be selfish and ruthless to achieve their ultimate goal.

With the Japan Football Union on a hot losing streak, in a last ditch effort they develop a program called Blue Lock. This program is designed to pit the country’s best players against each other in hopes of creating the strongest, most egotistical striker possible to represent Japan in the World Cup.

Ashito Aoi is the star soccer player of his small rural town. His talent is the one thing that can take his home team to victory in their preliminary soccer tournament, but an opponent causes him to lose his cool mid-match and he’s removed from the game as a result. Despite his outburst, he’s invited to try out for a team in Tokyo, and now must test his talents amongst other star athletes.

Two strangers named Jin and Tsukashi meet fatefully one night. Tsukashi is a plain person with no outstanding traits, but Jin is a soccer genius. After their meeting Jin is inclined to introduce Tsukashi to the game that he loves. 

Days is the epitome of a sports anime, featuring a protagonist who refuses to give up and a team that is driven by friendship and camaraderie.

Based off of the popular Nintendo DS game, Inazuma Eleven centers around a soccer club of the same name that’s on the verge of being disbanded. Mamoru Endo is the grandson of the club’s first generation captain and is set on saving the team. By recruiting new players, including the powerful Shuuya Gouenji, he works towards taking Inazuma Eleven back to the top.

Considered a sports anime classic, Captain Tsubasa focuses on an 11-year-old boy named Tsubasa Oozora who is obsessed with soccer. To expand his knowledge he moves to Nankatsu city - except now he’s surrounded by players who begin to outshine him. 

While Tsubasa’s journey was originally an anime adapted from a manga in 1983, the series received a 2018 reboot in honor of the FIFA World Cup. 

Brothers Suguru and Kakeru both have a passion for soccer, but while Suguru is a star player, Kakeru is stuck in the shadows as his manager. Kakeru, no longer satisfied with being behind-the-scenes, decides that he wants a shot at the World Cup. Luckily for him he has his childhood best friend Nana in his corner - who also happens to be a top-ranked player on Japan’s women's national team.