The FIFA World Cup brings together football fans from around the world, but the excitement doesn’t have to end after the final whistle. Whether you’re waiting for the next match or simply looking for more stories about competition, teamwork, and perseverance, Crunchyroll offers several sports anime that capture the same intensity found in real-life tournaments.
While football takes center stage during the World Cup, these series explore a wide range of sports—from volleyball and basketball to figure skating, American football, and motorsports—through compelling stories of athletes chasing their dreams.
1. Blue Lock
If the World Cup has you craving more football action, Blue Lock is the obvious starting point.
The series follows Japan’s ambitious project to develop the country’s ultimate striker by gathering 300 of the nation’s best young forwards in a ruthless elimination program. Instead of emphasizing teamwork alone, Blue Lock challenges players to embrace their individual ambition to become the one striker capable of leading Japan to World Cup success.
2. Haikyu!!
One of the most acclaimed sports anime of the past decade, Haikyu!! follows Shoyo Hinata’s journey from an undersized volleyball enthusiast to a determined high school player.
The series blends fast-paced matches with character development, rivalries, and teamwork, making it an accessible watch even for viewers unfamiliar with volleyball.
3. Shoot! Goal to the Future
Football fans looking for another soccer-focused series can check out Shoot! Goal to the Future.
The anime centers on former national champion Atsushi Kamiya, who returns to his old high school as coach to revive a struggling football program while helping talented but unmotivated player Hideto Tsuji rediscover his passion for the sport.
4. Kuroko’s Basketball
Basketball takes the spotlight in Kuroko’s Basketball, where seemingly invisible playmaker Tetsuya Kuroko teams up with powerhouse Taiga Kagami to challenge Japan’s legendary “Generation of Miracles.”
Known for its flashy matches and larger-than-life rivalries, the series remains one of the genre’s most popular basketball anime.
5. Eyeshield 21
American football gets its own underdog story in Eyeshield 21.
After years of being forced to run errands by bullies, Sena Kobayakawa develops extraordinary speed that earns him a spot on his school’s football team under the mysterious identity of “Eyeshield 21.”
6. Yuri!!! on ICE
For viewers looking for something beyond traditional team sports, Yuri!!! on ICE delivers a character-driven story centered on competitive figure skating.
After a disappointing season, Japanese skater Yuri Katsuki considers retirement before receiving unexpected guidance from world champion Victor Nikiforov, reigniting his pursuit of success on the ice.
7. MF GHOST
Motorsport fans can round out the list with MF GHOST.
Set in a future where electric autonomous vehicles dominate public roads, the anime follows Kanata Rivington as he competes in high-speed racing tournaments across Japan while searching for answers about his family.
More than just sports
While each series focuses on a different discipline, they all explore familiar themes that resonate during major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup: determination, rivalry, teamwork, resilience, and the pursuit of greatness.
Whether you’re looking for football-centered stories like Blue Lock and Shoot! Goal to the Future, or branching into volleyball, basketball, figure skating, and racing, these sports anime offer plenty of competitive action to keep the excitement going between World Cup matches.
