Picture: News 5 Cleveland
Netflix has 10 documentaries arriving in May 2026, with a particularly big emphasis on stories from the world of football ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Here’s the full rundown.
So far in 2026, Netflix has debuted a range of excellent documentary features and series. We’ve listed 10 of the very best here. Looking ahead to May 2026, over half of 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 true-crime documentary The Crash. Let’s run through all 10 coming our way.
For those in the United States, you’ll also be treated to the Tribeca Film Festival documentary Room To Move, executive-produced by Amy Schumer. Netflix US will also be getting a bunch more HISTORY Channel docu-drama series, too.
Countdown: Rousey vs. Carano
Coming to Netflix: May 6
Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey and MMA legend Gina Carano hit training camp before they return to the cage on May 16, in a fight that’s been years in the making. The fight itself will air on Netflix live from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, marking yet another big live sporting event for the streamer.
This documentary precursor is narrated by none other than Uma Thurman, and helmed by Tim Mullen and Jackie Decker.
USA 94: Brazil’s Return to Glory
Coming to Netflix: May 7
No team in football history has won more FIFA World Cups than Brazil. From Pele to Ronaldinho, they have a knack of finding some of the greatest footballers of all-time. One of their most famous World Cup wins came back in 1994, where they managed to beat Italy in a penalty shootout. This documentary takes viewers back to their 1994 tournament, which was chock-full of dramatic late winners and a penalty shootout final.
It features exclusive interviews as well as never-before-seen footage shot by the players themselves. If you need something to inspire ahead of the 2026 World Cup, look no further!
Marty, Life is Short
Coming to Netflix: May 11
Picture Credit: Netflix
Comedian and actor Martin Short has endured one hell of a career to date, boasting two Emmy Awards, two Actor Awards, and a Tony Award. His filmography spans decades and genres; he’s perhaps best known for Three Amigos, Father of the Bride, and of course, more recently Only Murders in the Building. In this documentary, Short looks back on a life lived to the maximum, 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-watch for fans of Martin Short.
UNTOLD UK: Jamie Vardy
Coming to Netflix: May 12
Jamie Vardy went from being a relatively unknown to lower-league footballer, to Premier League-winning striker in just a couple of years. His rise is testament to hard work, never giving up, and the unpredictable nature of football. 38-year-old Vardy departed Leicester City a legend in 2025 after scoring 200 goals in 500 appearances for the club.
Outside of football, Jamie Vardy went on to become a big media personality alongside 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, featuring interviews with those who know him best, including Rebekah Vardy, Nigel Pearson (Leicester Manager), Wes Morgan (Leicester Teammate), Marc 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 (Leicester Football Journalist).
The Bus: A French Football Mutiny
Coming to Netflix: May 13
During the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the entire French squad went on strike and refused to enter the public training pitch. Why? It was all in protest of the expulsion of superstar striker Nicolas Anelka, who was a key player at the time, and one of the most coveted strikers of the era, winning the Premier League title and FA Cup with Chelsea. The infamous ‘bus’ situation became a zeitgeist for the dysfunctional era of French football.
The event sparked global headlines and national outrage. It was covered enormously at the time. But now, over 15 years later, Netflix is revisiting the case in the hope of making the definitive overview.
The Crash
Coming to Netflix: May 15
Picture Credit: News 5 Cleveland
Bizarrely, The Crash is the only non-sports-related documentary coming to Netflix in May 2026.
Produced by RAW (Don’t F**k With Cats), and directed by Gareth Johnson, The Crash is a deep dive into the harrowing 2022 incident in which Ohio 17-year-old teenager Mackenzie Shirilla intentionally drove 100 mph into a brick building, killing both her boyfriend Dominic Russo and his friend Davion Flanagan. Shirilla was convicted of 12 felony charges and ultimately sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 15 years.
In 2025, Shirilla was incarcerated at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. On sentencing, a judge called her “hell on wheels,” a phrase that’s since become synonymous with the case.
This documentary weighs the evidence and examines the conflicting narratives surrounding the case.
UNTOLD UK: Liverpool’s Miracle of Istanbul
Coming to Netflix: May 19
Picture Credit: Netflix
Back in 2005, Liverpool Football Club shook the sporting world with an unprecedented comeback against European titans AC Milan, overturning a three-goal deficit and staging one of the greatest football stories of all-time.
The ‘Miracle of Istanbul’ has already been documented dozens of times — there’s even been feature movies about the comeback. Netflix’s UNTOLD UK version promises to be the definitive overview of the story, featuring those involved in the match itself, including Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Rafa Benitez, Xabi Alonso, Didi Hamman, and more.
James.
Coming to Netflix: May 21
Colombian footballer James Rodriguez is a strange case study. When he was a young footballer, he was one of the most coveted on the planet, famously putting himself on the radar of every club after scoring a wonder goal at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil — a tournament for which he won a golden boot. He got his dream transfer to Real Madrid in 2014, playing almost a hundred games for Los Blancos. His career didn’t quite reach the immense heights of other footballing giants, but he remains a titan 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: May 26
Vinnie Jones was far from your traditional footballer; he falls into a category of his own. Back in the ’80s and ’90s, he played the game with a physicality unlike anyone else, making him one of the toughest opponents.
Fuelled by his fierce personality and fiery footballing style, Vinnie Jones later made the switch from football to Hollywood, and it worked a treat. His acting career is particularly esteemed, appearing in projects alongside industry heavyweights Brad Pitt and Stephen Graham. He became typecast as the ‘hard guy’ in the film industry. Some of his most notable projects include Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Snatch (2000), and Mean Machine (2001).
Also starring alongside Vinnie Jones are people who knew him best. Former footballers John Fashanu and Bobby Gould offer testimonials, as well as journalist and TV personality Piers Morgan.
Rafa
Coming to Netflix: May 29
When you think of a legendary tennis player, chances are that Rafa Nadal is one of the first names that comes to mind. The Spanish superstar was ranked World Number 1 at the end of the year an unprecedented 5 times.
Narrated by Nadal himself, this documentary series examines his immense and illustrious career, his enduring legacy, and chronicles his final season on the court. It features never-before-seen archival footage and exclusive access to his personal life, building a picture around not only who he was as a player, but who he is as a man.
Also on the documentary are former players and rivals Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and John McEnroe, who give testimonies to Nadal.
Which of these documentaries will you be watching? Tell us in the comments down below!
