Picture: Graphic by What’s on Netflix
Some of the very best sports documentaries of the past decade have been exclusive to Netflix. 2026 is already shaping up to be another excellent year for sports documentaries on Netflix, with the return of Drive to Survive and Full Swing, and the launch of brand-new documentaries centred on Rafa Nadal, Brazil’s legendary 1970 team, and more.
Throughout 2026, we’ll be updating the list below with all of the latest sports docs headed to Netflix.
Sports Documentaries Coming to Netflix in 2026
Glitter & Gold: Ice Dancing (Season 1)
Netflix Release Date: February 1, 2026
Dive headfirst into the world of figure skating, where deep partnerships are formed between dance partners, and total dedication is required in order to take home Olympic gold.
The Queen of Chess (2026)
Netflix Release Date: February 6, 2026
While chess is not a physically demanding sport, it is mentally taxing, but that was never the problem for the Hungarian chess prodigy Judit Polgár, who overcame gender barriers and her controlling father to become a grandmaster and one of the finest chess players in history.
Formula 1 Drive to Survive (Season 8)
Netflix Release Date: February 27, 2026
Picture: Formula 1: Drive to Survive – Netflix / Box to Box Films
The 2025 F1 season came down to the wire as Lando Norris finally won his first Formula One World Driver’s Championship. With plenty of twists and turns throughout the season, once again, Box to Box Films was there to document all of the drama that unfolded, with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the drivers and team principals.
Full Swing (Season 4)
Netflix Release Date: April 2026
Picture: Full Swing – Netflix / Box to Box Films
Full Swing will return for a fourth season, with the most dramatic season yet. Once again, the best players of Europe and the USA clash in the Ryder Cup, this time on US Soil at the Black Course of Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York. Europe beat the US 15-13, but the score is less than half the story. Throughout the competition, the European players had to endure a rowdy, hostile American crowd, whose behaviour was widely criticised by the media. All of the drama that unfolded was documented by the Box to Box team.
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Season 3)
Netflix Release Date: 2026
Picture: America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders – Boardwalk Pictures
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, aka America’s Sweethearts, will return for a third season as we follow them across the 2025 NFL season. In the documentary, we get to see the training and choreography that go into being a cheerleader for one of the most popular NFL teams, and what it takes to cheer your team to victory and defeat.
Brazil 70 (Limited Series)
Netflix Release Date: 2026
Likely to arrive in time for the 2026 World Cup, the documentary will chronicle the incredible journey of the 1970 Brazil team. From 1958 to 1970, a period of dominance in the World Cup was seen that has since been unrivalled. During that period, the Brazil national team featured true legends of the game, including Pelé, Didi, Garrincha, Jarzinho, Carlos Alberto, and more.
Rafa (Limited Series)
Netflix Release Date: 2026
One of the greatest tennis players to grace the court, Rafael Nadal, is also one of the greatest athletes ever produced by Spain. Competing against other legendary players such as Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, Nadal’s career spanned from 2001 to 2024, with a record of 1080-228 and 22 Grand Slam victories (2x Australian Open, 14x French Open, 2x Wimbledon, 4x US Open). The documentary will follow Nadal in the twilight of his career as he says goodbye to the sport, featuring behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and archived footage of his career.
Untitled James Rodríguez Docuseries
Netflix Release Date: 2026
James Rodríguez, Colombian International and former player for Real Madrid, Everton, Porto, Monaco, and São Paulo, became a worldwide sensation at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Scoring world-class goals, he quickly became one of the most in-demand attacking midfielders in world football. Throughout his career, he has played for numerous iconic clubs, winning prestigious accolades such as La Liga, the Bundesliga, the Primeira Liga, and two Champions Leagues with Real Madrid. The documentary will delve into the life and career of Rodríguez, featuring exclusive access to the athlete, interviews and archived footage.
What sport documentaries are you looking forward to watching on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!
