15 Best Soccer/Football Anime Recommendations

Soccer and Football are words that can be used loosely to explain the same sport; however, in North America, soccer and Football refer to two separate sports.

We’ll use the terms synonymously because they’re both abbreviations for “association football,” a term used to differentiate soccer from rugby football in the past.

Soccer (or Football if you live outside of the United States of America) is the most loved and most watched sport on earth. Thousands of people get excited or even visit other countries to witness the matches live. Those who are unable to attend can view it on their smartphones, laptops, or televisions.

In Japan, soccer, or Football, is extremely popular. The love for soccer (Football) is evident with the amount of soccer content we witness in anime and manga.

Although there are many sports anime series that capture different sports, we will just focus on soccer anime series for this list.

One of the best things about soccer anime series is that these stories also provide readers unfamiliar with soccer with an introduction to the sport.

Over the decades, many manga and anime that embrace the true essence of soccer have been released.

For many, the FIFA World Cup is not just a tournament but an emotion. Millions of people are excited about the FIFA World Cup.

So today, we are making a list of the 15 best soccer anime series for you to enjoy. Most of the anime series on this list take place in middle or high school.

Note: Please remember that the anime on this list are ranked based on MAL Ratings, not the author’s personal preferences.

15. Sayonara Watashi no Cramer (Farewell, My Dear Cramer)

• Number of Episodes: 13
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Status: Finished Airing
• MAL Ratings: 6.09 /10
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll

This anime series is a sequel to Sayonara Football. Because it concentrates on a women’s football team’s struggles, the high school soccer team anime Farewell, My Dear Cramer stands out from the rest on this list.

In the follow-up, Midori Soshizaki and Sumire Suo eventually attended Warabi Seinan High School. The two resolve to take on the responsibility of ensuring that the school’s soccer club performs better in competitions.

The club appoints Naoko Nomi as its new coach. Under her direction, they are able to develop into a formidable force that can challenge some of the best teams in the country.

Unlike other sports anime, Farewell, My Dear Cramer doesn’t shy away from showing defeats and failures.

Overall, it’s a fun soccer anime that teaches the rules, tactics, and value of team spirit.

14. Akakichi no Eleven (The Dark Red Eleven)

• Number of Episodes: 52
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Status: Finished Airing
• MAL Ratings: 6.66 /10
• Where to watch: N/A

Shingo Tamai, our main character, attends the Shinsei Senior High School Institute, which percolates in a rural area on the outskirts of Tokyo.

At the beginning of the academic year, Tempei Matsuki—a former goalkeeper for the Japanese national soccer team and an Olympic bronze medalist from Mexico—becomes the new physical education instructor.

Soccer becomes a source of tension at Shinsei High School due to the main character’s hotheadedness, Shingo Tamai, who refuses to work with the soccer team formed by the new head coach Teppei Matsuki.

Within the rebellion, Shingo and his classmate create their own team, blending their skills and abilities to form a top-notch soccer team.

Interestingly, Akakichi no Eleven is the first anime series with a soccer theme. This is the beginning of a long line of Japanese soccer anime that goes back to Captain Tsubasa and far beyond.

It is undoubtedly a drama instead of a football anime or a sports series, for that matter.

13. Ganbare, Kickers! (Fight! Kickers)

• Number of Episodes: 23
• Number of Seasons: 1 + 1 Special (3 Episodes) + 1 OVA (1 Episode)
• Status: Finished Airing
• MAL Ratings: 6.83 /10
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll

The story revolves around a soccer team comprised of children from Kitahara Elementary School who initially lacked a quality striker.

However, when little Kakeru Daichi’s family relocates to that town, the kid decides to join the football club as a striker, proving himself to be a capable soccer player.

With Kakeru’s extra help, the roster has become perfect in every way, motivating the team to take on the famous soccer team, the “Red Devils.”

In the midst of Kakeru’s team’s 10-1 defeat, a young striker from Kitahara scored against the opposing team goalie. Unfortunately, the opposing team goalkeeper is none other than Uesugi, who was previously thought to be unbeatable.

Kakeru’s team will then compete in the national championship. Meanwhile, Hongo, the team’s goalkeeper, falls in love with Ayumi Daichi, Kakeru’s sister.

Later, the team hires a new coach, whose instructions help the team advance to the league semifinals, where they face the Red Devils again.

Though the anime pretty much focuses on building a strong soccer team, it also focuses on the idea of bonding off the field and maintaining a good team spirit.

12. Keppeki Danshi! Aoyama-Kun (Clean Freak! Aoyama-kun)

• Number of Episodes: 12
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Status: Finished Airing
• MAL Ratings: 6.97 /10
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll

A football prodigy and a clean freak—these two words would make up the plot of Clean Freak! Aoyama-Kun. He was a member of the Japan Under-16 team before opting to join the humble and unfamiliar Fujimi high school club.

He is motivated to lead Fujimi High School to the pinnacle of the national championship with his new team members, who are equally wild as they are determined.

Given that the characters in this show are all under the age of 16, it tends to focus more on their growth as a team than on the football (soccer) background of the show.

Unlike other soccer anime on the list, Aoyama Clean Freak does not include hard-core soccer or football games. Football became irrelevant after a few episodes.

The plot revolves around events filled with jokes and actions from the football club team members and everyone associated with them. Since Ayoma is a star player, he has many fans, including one who adores him.

Football, a love triangle, bickering, challenges, and possibly some foolish actions are all thrown into the mix. The scenarios will make you laugh. You’ll laugh after witnessing some epic moments.

Clean Freak is one of the best soccer anime mixed with comedy and drama.

11. Days

• Number of Episodes: 24
• Number of Seasons: 1 + 2 OVAs (5 Episodes)
• Status: Finished Airing
• MAL Ratings: 7.16 /10
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll

Animated by the powerhouse Mappa Studio, Days is a soccer anime that centers on two boys on the same team and their constant bickering.

Jin and Tsukushi are two boys who are constantly on each other’s necks. Jin is thought to be a genius who is capable of reaching the pinnacle of success. Tsukushi, on the other hand, is considered untalented.

Tsukushi is a shy and timid high school student who has recently completed his graduation from Seiseki High School.

While on his way to visit his friend Sayuri Tachinana, he is attacked by a group of bullies.

But fortunately, he is saved by Jin Kazama. Jin is the complete opposite of him. Jin is outgoing and eccentric. For example, jin, without realizing it, invites Tsukushi to play a game of soccer.

Tsukushi’s inability is demonstrated by the match, but Jin’s great talent entices him. His admiration for Jin takes him to the point where he decides to join the high school soccer club.

Unfortunately, the Seiseki team is well known and sought after by young people from across the country, so Tsukushi will have to work hard and persevere in order to be accepted.

One of the good things about Days is that Tsukushi is a complete soccer (football) newbie.

And the best part is that, aside from being a newcomer to soccer, he has his own way of becoming a big help to his teams, such as with his new personality and ability to motivate his teammates.

Days is a straightforward sports anime focusing on the characters rather than the game itself, introducing us to their insecurities and joys.

Days has one of the best soccer/football anime characters ever created.

10. Area no Kishi (The Knight in the Area)

• Number of Episodes: 37
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Status: Finished Airing
• MAL Ratings: 7.18 /10
• Where to watch: Shahid

Kakeru Aizawa’s younger brother is Suguru Aizawa, a football prodigy for Japan’s under-15 national team.

Before the beginning of the plotline, Kakeru left his spot as a forward because of a traumatic encounter that tried to prevent him from trying to play with his left leg and settled for a manager’s position.

Suguru was killed in a car accident. His heart is implanted in Kakeru. With that as well, Kakeru returns to football to fulfill his and his brother’s World Cup dreams.

He has to play soccer, become a professional soccer player, and compete for Japan in regional and international competitions. So Kakeru and his new team members set out on a mission to be the strongest and best soccer team in Japan and carry out his brother’s ambition through a lot of training and hard work.

Besides the clichéd themes of friendship and self-improvement, football anime typically doesn’t focus much on the characters.

The main reason is that crucial events occur inside the field, not outside. But that’s not exactly the case in “The Knight in the Area.”

Instead, we get to see some great character development on a personal level regarding the main characters.

09. Ginga e Kickoff!! (Victory Kickoff!!)

• Number of Episodes: 39
• Number of Seasons: 1 + 1 Special (1 Episode)
• Status: Finished Airing
• MAL Ratings: 7.21 /10
• Where to watch: N/A

Sho Ota is an elementary school student and a soccer fanatic who plays for the Momoyama Predators. However, the school’s soccer club disbands due to members leaving the team.

Shou enjoys playing football, although he could be better at it. Nonetheless, he works hard to find new members to revitalise the team.

Whenever he saw someone playing football, he attempted to recruit new members. Finally, Erika, a girl he saw playing football with her dog in the park, was invited to join. Erika jumped right on board with the group.

They eventually come across a female professional soccer player. Will Shou successfully achieve his dream of playing in a professional soccer league?

Unlike other main protagonists on this list who are labeled “prodigies,” Ginga e Kickoff!! is different from them. The main character loves to play football despite having no special abilities.

Though he is not a skilled player when it comes to footwork, his keen sense of direction and thorough knowledge of the game make him a valuable soccer player and a great asset to the team.

Another good thing about him is that he can command the whole team on the pitch and give instructions on where to pass the soccer ball.

08. Captain Tsubasa

• Number of Episodes: 279
• Number of Seasons: 4 + 4 Movies + 4 OVAs (14 Episodes) + 1 Special (1 Episode)
• Status: Finished Airing
• MAL Ratings: 7.33 /10
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll

The most well-known soccer manga is probably Captain Tsubasa, and we are sure you have heard of Captain Tsubasa. Our main protagonist is, of course, Tsubasa. Tsubasa dreams of becoming a professional soccer player and winning the FIFA World Cup.

Tsubasa could amaze those around him from a young age. He and his family relocate to Nankatsu City, where he attends a public school for his final year of elementary school.

But even though he was unquestionably the best in his old town, Tsubasa now faces a lot more challenging opponents, so he will need to use every one of his abilities to stand out from the crowd.

He continued to put in a lot of effort to accomplish his dream, working hard to practice and develop his abilities with his teammates in order to be the best player and represent Japan in the FIFA World Cup.

Despite having a clear and concise plot, Captain Tsubasa’s plot line is incredibly entertaining. Another good aspect of the matches is that they are not a repetition of their last matches.

You won’t get bored easily because each match comes with its own dynamics, turn of events, and amount of difficulty.

07. Whistle

• Number of Episodes: 39
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Status: Finished Airing
• MAL Ratings: 7.39 /10
• Where to watch: N/A

Sho Kazamatsuri is a young man and a high school student who aspires to play professional football. To accomplish this, he wants to attend the top football school, “Musashi no Mori,” but he is unable to. But after enrolling in the “Sakura Josui” school, he can assert himself and move closer to fulfilling his dream.

Sho’s abilities quickly grow and improve, bringing him one step closer to achieving his dream with the help of his new friends and intense dedication.

Shou was too short to participate in the game at his previous school. As a result, he only advanced up to the position of a third-stringer at the previous school, which was well known for having one of the best soccer teams in the country.

They met the former star of the top-ranked Mushasi no Mori team thanks to their teacher, Yuko Katori. Shou was committed to overcoming his flaws and beginning a new life where he could realize his dream.

But now that he is attending this school, he can finally play his favorite sport and pursue his dream.

Whistle is one of those soccer/football anime that is worth watching at least once. The plot is a realistic focusing more on the game than side stories. However, the plot and the characters are definitely the anime’s core, making it more enjoyable and memorable.

06. Aoki Densetsu Shoot! (Legendary Blue Shot!)

• Number of Episodes: 58
• Number of Seasons: 1 + 1 Movie
• Status: Finished Airing
• MAL Ratings: 7.54 /10
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll

Soccer is a sport that Toshihiko Tanaka, a student at Kakegawa High School, is highly passionate about. He enrolled at Kakegawa High School because Yoshiharu Kubo, his hero, plays soccer there.

Aoki Densetsu Shoot!’s story is focused on three friends who gained the moniker “golden trio” after making their junior high soccer team an unbeatable force. Unfortunately, his friends stopped playing soccer due to unforeseen events.

Hiramatsu’s father made him go abroad to study so that he would grow up to be a respectable man. On the other hand, Shiraishi gave up playing soccer after his team was once disqualified from a match because he lost his cool, argued, and started a fight.

Hiramatsu openly told his father that he still wanted to play soccer and be a member of the Golden Trio. Hiramatsu’s father will absolve him of responsibility for the time being because he claimed that when he was younger, he played soccer as well.

The three friends reunited as freshmen to form a high school soccer club at their new high school, featuring their favorite player, Yoshiharu Kubo.

05. Giant Killing

• Number of Episodes: 26
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Status: Finished Airing
• MAL Ratings: 7.54 /10
• Where to watch: Funimation

Giant Killing is based on the East Tokyo United soccer team from Japan. In the top football league in the nation, the club has been struggling for a few years.

The club makes every effort to turn its situation around despite narrowly avoiding defeat. Finally, they decide to try an additional experiment by hiring a new manager.

The new manager has a monumental task: turning the team around and competing with teams with much larger budgets. In addition to his prior reputation, Takeshi is despised by the club’s supporters, which makes his job even harder.

The East Tokyo United had a rough start to the season after drawing with Tokyo Victory, losing five straight games before finally breaking through with a win over Nagoya.

After that, there were several drawn games, a loss, and a victory over the Osaka Gunners.

04. Hungry Heart: Wild Striker

• Number of Episodes: 52
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Status: Finished Airing
• MAL Ratings: 7.55 /10
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll

Hungry Heart: Wild Striker is one of the best-known soccer animes out there. Kano Kyosuke, a high school student from Jyoyo Orange High School, is the main character.

A.C. Milan is the soccer team that Kyosuke’s older brother plays for. His older brother, who taught Kyosuke everything he knew about soccer, significantly impacted his life.

Kyosuke eventually lost interest in soccer when those around him began to compare him to his older brother. However, things started to change after he enrolled at Jyoyo Orange High School, and he rediscovers his passion for the sport.

Following this, Kyosuke decided to join the men’s football team and made new friends like Rodrigo, a Brazilian student, and talented goalkeeper Sakai Jefferson.

Because of his unwavering passion for the sport and hoping to one day become a professional player, Kyosuke considered advancing with his teammates.

Hungry Heart: Wild Striker is all about rediscovering a long-forgotten passion. Hungry Heart: Wild Striker does not only focus on the game but also on the impact of constant comparison among siblings.

03. Inazuma Eleven

• Number of Episodes: 127 (with 141 more in follow-up series)
• Number of Seasons: 3 (with 3 more in follow-up series) + 4 Movies + 4 Specials
• Status: Finished Airing
• MAL Ratings: 7.67 /10
• Where to watch: Disney Now, Netflix

The soccer team at Raimon Middle School goes on adventures in this anime series. Mamoru Endou, the club’s current captain, has a heavy burden of responsibility because the team has been in chaos for a long time.

He quickly learns, though, that the task will be anything but simple.

Mamoru quickly realizes that in order to restore the club, he needs a hand. A soccer player with extraordinary talent named Shuuya Gouenji, who no longer wants to play, is encountered by him.

However, Mamoru is not deterred, and he tries to persuade Shuuya to join the club.

When aliens invade Earth, they give humans a chance by promising to leave if humans beat them in a football game. Along with other players from Japan, Mamoru will fight to protect the planet’s future.

The Football Frontier International competition is set up, and Japan will enter its best players to take first place globally.

The Football Frontier, Aliea Academy, and Football Frontier International are the three different storylines that make up the show.

As with every anime, the characters are an important part of the story. They all have distinct personalities that draw people in.

Each arc knew how to use its content extremely well, so they were all entertaining and well-directed to watch.

The show focuses on the themes of friendship, teamwork, value, and finding ways to overcome your weaknesses and worries, and it successfully carries out these themes.

02. Blue Lock

• Number of Episodes: 24
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Status: Currently Airing
• MAL Ratings: 8.24 /10
• Where to watch: Netflix

The story opens after Japan’s national team is eliminated from the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In order to start their preparation for the FIFA 2022 tournament right away, the Japanese football union, which felt humiliated by the defeat, decided to scout new high school students who wanted to participate in the tournament.

The Football Association changes after realizing that the Japanese National Team needs a complete makeover. To a certain end, they hire Jinpachi Ego as a coach.

The new coach thinks the national team needs a striker with high goal-scoring potential.

As a result, he builds a facility named Blue Lock, where 300 strikers are made to fight against each other. He is adamant about creating the best Japanese team possible with the best strikers in the world.

One of the many participants, Yoichi Isagi, decides to join the Blue Lock in the desperate hope of putting his past failures behind him.

The show tells the story of his journey to becoming the world’s best striker as well as a professional soccer player as it unfolds.

Blue Lock is the most anticipated anime adaptation and probably one of the best sports anime.

01. Ao Ashi

• Number of Episodes: 24
• Number of Seasons: 1
• Status: Finished Airing
• MAL Ratings: 8.29 /10
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Disney+

The protagonist of his junior high team, Ashito Aoi, is the focus of Ao Ashi. However, he loses his temper one day and is expelled from the team.

His team crumbles after he is removed, and he starts to doubt himself. Fortunately for him, he meets a coach who recognizes his ability and welcomes him to Tokyo to hone his skills.

Ashito needs to perform at his best to establish himself in a competitive environment and land a position that could change his life.

The strength of Ao Ashi here is how effectively it captures the struggles an athlete, their family, and friends must face, as well as how the athlete must give up everything and leave it all behind in order to concentrate on a single thing—in our case, football. Both the drama and the character writing are strong.

In addition to that, there is the challenge Ashito must overcome as an outsider, as well as bullying, rivalries, and unsportsmanlike behavior on the part of other players.

Yet, at the same time, he puts in a lot of effort, advances, and meets new people.

Other Soccer Anime or Football Anime Series:

• Moero! Top Striker
• Soccer Fever
• Forza! Hidemaru
• Futsal Boys