Goethe on Demand celebrates the empowering, unifying force of soccer

Gooooooaaaal! To mark the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s arrival in North America this summer, the German Film Office is pleased to present “Breaking Lines”, a series celebrating the empowering, unifying force of soccer.

From triumphant stories of teamwork told through the lens of migration (Too Far Away, Winners), to documentaries on women and queer people pioneering inclusivity in the sport (We Wanted More – The Miracle of Taipei, The Last Taboo), to a charming look at the devotion of a neurodivergent fan (Weekend Rebels), the selection sees soccer lovers of all stripes finding solidarity and perseverance both on and off the field. So lace up those cleats and start your stretches—“Breaking Lines” streams free through July 31 on Goethe on Demand.

Presented as part of Among Friends – Unter Freunden, a campaign of the Goethe-Institut USA to celebrate and strengthen transatlantic friendship.
 

 

Film selection

Too Far Away (2019)
Dir. Sarah Winkenstette
Tariq is from Syria, Ben from Germany. Both forced to leave their homes for a new school and passionate about soccer, their initial rivalry on the field makes way for an unexpected friendship.

We Wanted More – The Miracle of Taipei (2019)
Dir. John David Siedler
With little money and no institutional support, a small-town German soccer club beats impossible odds to become champions at the 1981 Women’s World Invitational in Taipei.

Weekend Rebels (2023)
Dir. Marc Rothemund
In exchange for a promise to do better in school, Jason, a ten-year-old boy with autism, asks his father to help him find his favorite soccer team. The catch? He’ll need to see all 56 German teams play live in their own stadiums first.

The Last Taboo (2024)
Dir. Manfred Oldenburg
Pioneering gay players—including Germany’s Thomas Hitzlsperger—explore the origins, consequences, and potential futures of professional soccer’s long-enduring culture of homophobia.

Winners (2024)
Dir. Soleen Yusef
On the girls’ soccer team at a chaotic Berlin school, eleven-year-old Syrian refugee Mona and her brash new classmates must learn to work together to clinch victory at an upcoming intramural tournament.