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Toronto is counting down to the FIFA World Cup 2026, and there’s a growing sense that the tournament will be the city’s defining cultural moment of the decade! Case in point, one of Toronto’s biggest outdoor film festivals is getting in on the excitement with a lineup dedicated entirely to soccer.
The ICFF Lavazza IncluCity Festival (June 25 to July 19) is launching a special limited-run soccer film series at the Distillery District this summer, bringing together seven internationally acclaimed films that explore soccer culture from every angle: think iconic World Cup moments, wartime dramas, fandom, rivalry and of course, underdog stories.
“As the world turns its eyes to this historic moment, we’re bringing that same electricity to the screen — through a cinematic experience that captures the passion, the intensity, and the cultural impact of soccer on a global scale,” the festival said in its programmer’s note.
The screenings will take place outdoors in the Distillery District and come with more than just the movies themselves! Tickets include access to food and drink activations throughout the site, as well as entry to AiRTIFICIAL Visions, an immersive exhibit at the Illuminarium.
Among the most recognizable titles in the lineup is Bend It Like Beckham, Gurinder Chadha’s cult 2002 comedy-drama starring Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley. The film follows 18-year-old Jess Bhamra as she balances her Punjabi Sikh family’s expectations with her dream of becoming a pro football player inspired by David Beckham. The screening takes place July 9 at 9 p.m., with tickets ranging from $32.75 (youth admission) to $62.75 (general admission), including fees. Rogers Trinity Theatre.
Italian football fans might check out Il Viaggio Degli Eroi (aka “Italy 1982 – The Journey of the Heroes”), a documentary revisiting Italy’s legendary 1982 World Cup victory through archival footage and reflections from football icons, including Dino Zoff and Gianluca Vialli. The film screens June 27 at 9 p.m., with tickets priced at $62.75 including fees. Rogers Trinity Theatre.
Another standout is La Casaca de Dios (“The Jersey of God”), an Argentine drama tied to Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” era. The story follows a grieving former equipment manager who becomes consumed with recovering Maradona’s iconic 1986 World Cup jersey after it resurfaces decades later. The screening is scheduled for July 10 at 9 p.m., with tickets priced at $62.75 including fees. Rogers Trinity Theatre.
Taika Waititi’s Next Goal Wins also joins the lineup, retelling the true story of American Samoa’s national team after its devastating 31-0 loss to Australia in a World Cup qualifier. Michael Fassbender stars as the unconventional coach brought in to help the struggling squad rebuild. The film screens July 7 at 9 p.m., with tickets priced at $62.75 including fees. Rogers Trinity Theatre.
Classic cinema lovers can catch Victory, John Huston’s 1981 wartime sports drama starring Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine and Pelé. The film is set during WWII and follows Allied prisoners of war planning an escape during a propaganda football match against Germany. The screening takes place June 26 at 8:15 p.m., with tickets priced at $52.50 including fees. Spirit Theatre.
The festival will also screen Voy! Voy! Voy!, an Egyptian comedy-drama inspired by real events. The story centres on a Cairo security guard who pretends to be visually impaired in order to join a blind football team competing internationally, only to confront unexpected guilt and connection along the way. It screens July 3 at 9:15 p.m., with tickets priced at $52.50 including fees. Spirit Theatre.
Rounding out the series is Ein Sommer in Italien (“A Summer in Italy — World Cup 1990”), a documentary revisiting the unforgettable atmosphere of Italia ’90, from Salvatore Schillaci’s breakout performance to Diego Maradona’s semifinal in Naples. The documentary screens July 11 at 8:30 p.m., with tickets priced at $42.50 including fees. Spirit Theatre.
Perhaps the festival puts it best: “The world plays. Toronto cheers. The screen erupts.”
The ICFF Lavazza IncluCity Festival runs from June 25 to July 19. Click here for the festival’s full soccer series lineup, ticket prices and show dates.
