What is this genre all about? Stories involving teams playing soccer aka football.
We present you the list of Soccer anime you should watch right now.
Try our anime quiz: Anime Characters Guessing Quiz/Game
Top 20 Soccer anime you should watch right now. [2026 List]
- 20. BLUE LOCK
- 19. Captain Tsubasa
- 18. Blue Lock VS. U-20 JAPAN
- 17. Ao Ashi
- 16. Inazuma Eleven
- 15. Captain Tsubasa (2018)
- 14. Blue Lock (Zoku-hen)
- 13. Captain Tsubasa: Season 2 - Junior Youth-hen
- 12. Blue Lock: EPISODE Nagi
- 11. Aoashi 2nd Season
- 10. Keppeki Danshi! Aoyama-kun
- 9. Captain Tsubasa: Road to 2002
- 8. Captain Tsubasa J
- 7. Shin Captain Tsubasa
- 6. Captain Tsubasa: Asu ni Mukatte Hashire!
- 5. Captain Tsubasa: Saikyou no Teki! Holland Youth
- 4. Captain Tsubasa: Sekai Daikessen!! Jr. World Cup
- 3. Inazuma Eleven Go
- 2. Whistle!
- 1. The☆Doraemons: Goal! Goal! Goal!!
20. BLUE LOCK
Japan’s desire for World Cup glory leads the Japanese Football Association to launch a new rigorous training program to find the national team’s next striker. Three hundred high school players are pitted against each other for the position, but only one will come out on top. Who among them will be the striker to usher in a new era of Japanese soccer?
BLUE LOCK has finished airing and it has 24 Episodes. It is also Known as: Blue Lock, ブルーロック, BLUE LOCK
19. Captain Tsubasa
Captain Tsubasa is the passionate story of an elementary school student whose thoughts and dreams revolve almost entirely around the love of soccer. 11-year-old Tsubasa Oozora started playing soccer at a very young age, and while it was mostly just a recreational sport for his friends, for him, it developed into something of an obsession.
In order to pursue his dream to the best of his elementary school abilities, Tsubasa moves with his mother to Nankatsu city, which is well-known for its excellent elementary school soccer teams. But although he was easily the best in his old town, Nankatsu has a lot more competition, and he will need all of his skill and talent in order to stand out from this new crowd.
He encounters not only rivals, but also new friends like the pretty girl Sanae Nakazawa and the talented goalkeeper, Genzo Wakabayashi, who shares the same passion as Tsubasa, and will prove to be a treasured friend in helping him push towards his dreams. Representing Japan in the FIFA World Cup is Tsubasa’s ultimate dream, but it will take a lot more than talent to reach it.
Captain Tsubasa has finished airing and it has 128 Episodes. It is also Known as: キャプテン翼, Flash Kicker
18. Blue Lock VS. U-20 JAPAN
The second season of Blue Lock.
The hottest soccer matches start again as the U-20 Japan National Team makes their debut!
BLUE LOCK Season 2 has finished airing and it has 14 Episodes. It is also Known as: ブルーロック VS. U-20 JAPAN, ブルーロック第2期, Blue Lock 2nd Season
17. Ao Ashi
Ashito Aoi is a young, aspiring soccer player from a backwater town in Japan. His hopes of getting into a high school with a good soccer club are dashed when he causes an incident during a critical match for his team, which results in their loss and elimination from the tournament. Nevertheless, he catches the eye of someone important who happened to be visiting from Tokyo. How will things turn out for Ashito?
Ao Ashi has finished airing and it has 24 Episodes. It is also Known as: アオアシ, Aoashi
16. Inazuma Eleven
While other schools in Japan compete for the title of being the best soccer team in the country, Raimon Middle School's soccer club, Inazuma Eleven, struggles to rise from the verge of being disbanded. The grandson of Inazuma Eleven's first generation goalkeeper and captain of the team, Mamoru Endou, takes the challenge of kicking the long neglected club back into shape. To do this, he'll need a little help and more than a little luck.
Mamoru Endou finds hope in the hands of Shuuya Gouenji, a brilliant young player who has given up on soccer. Mamoru is determined to get Shuuya and other new recruits to join his team, no matter what the cost. Is his passion and determination enough to treat the ailing club? Or is there no more hope for the team?
Inazuma Eleven has finished airing and it has 127 Episodes. It is also Known as: イナズマイレブン, Inazuma Eleven
15. Captain Tsubasa (2018)
Captain Tsubasa is the passionate story of an elementary school student whose thoughts and dreams revolve almost entirely around the love of soccer. 11-year-old Tsubasa Oozora started playing football at a very young age, and while it was mostly just a recreational sport for his friends, for him, it developed into something of an obsession.
In order to pursue his dream to the best of his elementary school abilities, Tsubasa moves with his mother to Nankatsu city, which is well-known for its excellent elementary school soccer teams. But although he was easily the best in his old town, Nankatsu has a lot more competition, and he will need all of his skill and talent in order to stand out from this new crowd.
He encounters not only rivals, but also new friends like the pretty girl Sanae Nakazawa and the talented goalkeeper, Genzo Wakabayashi, who shares the same passion as Tsubasa, and will prove to be a treasured friend in helping him push towards his dreams. Representing Japan in the FIFA World Cup is Tsubasa’s ultimate dream, but it will take a lot more than talent to reach it.
Captain Tsubasa (2018) has finished airing and it has 52 Episodes. It is also Known as: キャプテン翼, Captain Tsubasa (2018)
14. Blue Lock (Zoku-hen)
Announced at the "Blue Lock Egoist Festa 2025" event: a sequel to Blue Lock VS. U-20 JAPAN.
Note: Title is provisional and subject to change when more info is announced.
Blue Lock (Zoku-hen) has not yet aired. It is also Known as: ブルーロック(続編), Blue Lock (Zoku-hen)
13. Captain Tsubasa: Season 2 - Junior Youth-hen
The second season of Captain Tsubasa (2018).
The International Junior Youth Tournament in Paris, France, is about to begin, and Tsubasa, Misaki, Wakabayashi, Hyuga, and Wakashimazu are ready. Japan’s team of elite players is to face off against the best the soccer world has to offer. Germany’s Schneider, France’s Pierre, Argentina’s Diaz, and Italy’s Hernandez await, along with a host of other new rivals. Let the battle begin!
Captain Tsubasa: Junior Youth Arc has finished airing and it has 39 Episodes. It is also Known as: キャプテン翼シーズン2 ジュニアユース編, Captain Tsubasa (2018) Season 2 - Junior Youth-hen, Captain Tsubasa: Jr. Youth Arc
12. Blue Lock: EPISODE Nagi
A movie centered on Nagi Seishirou before he enters BLUE LOCK.
My life was full of boredom. Until I met him.
“That’s a hassle.” That was second-year high schooler Nagi Seishirou’s favorite phrase as he lived his dull life. Until Reo Mikage, a classmate who dreamed of winning the World Cup, discovered Nagi’s hidden skill, inspiring him to play soccer and share his outstanding talent. Nagi is pulled into Reo's world of soccer and out of his leisurely lifestyle. What fate awaits this prodigy in BLUE LOCK? A world he’s never known.
Blue Lock the Movie -Episode Nagi- has finished airing and it has 1 Episodes. It is also Known as: ブルーロック-EPISODE 凪-, BLUELOCK: EPISODE Nagi, 劇場版 ブルーロック, BLUE LOCK THE MOVIE -EPISODE NAGI-, Blue Lock Movie
11. Aoashi 2nd Season
The second season of Aoashi.
Aoashi 2nd Season has not yet aired. It will air on December 31, 2026. It is also Known as: アオアシ 第2期, Aoashi 2nd Season
10. Keppeki Danshi! Aoyama-kun
The handsome young soccer genius named Aoyama is a Japan representative. His play style is "cleanliness." He doesn't tackle and doesn't head the ball. If he's doing a throw-in, he'll only do it if he's wearing gloves.
Clean Freak! Aoyama-kun has finished airing and it has 12 Episodes. It is also Known as: 潔癖男子！青山くん, Cleanliness Boy! Aoyama-kun
9. Captain Tsubasa: Road to 2002
Tsubasa Oozora loves everything about soccer: the cheer of the crowd, the speed of the ball, the passion of the players, and the excitement that comes from striving to be the best soccer player he can be. His goal is to aim for the World Cup, and to do that, he’s spent countless hours practicing soccer, ever since the moment he could walk on two legs. Now, as he plays for the Barcelona team in a fierce game, it seems as though his dreams are on the verge of coming true.Captain Tsubasa: Road to 2002 tells the story of how Tsubasa climbed his way through the ranks, featuring his roots in the town of Nankatsu as well as his epic journey to master the art of soccer.
Captain Tsubasa has finished airing and it has 52 Episodes. It is also Known as: キャプテン翼 (2001), Captain Tsubasa (2001), Road to World Cup 2002, Road to Dream
8. Captain Tsubasa J
The first 33 episodes are a summary of the previous series. In the first new episodes a new character, Shingo Aoi, (playing in Italy) is introduced. After that the world cup begins, this time with extraordinary, new countries like Sweden, Thailand or Uzbekistan. Unfortunately the Anime ends in the middle of the world cup after the match Japan-Uzbekistan.
Captain Tsubasa J has finished airing and it has 47 Episodes. It is also Known as: キャプテン翼Ｊ, Captain Tsubasa J
7. Shin Captain Tsubasa
Shin CT takes place at the U-16 word cup in France. After some friendly matches in Germany, Japan defeats one opponent after another and finally reaches the final round against Germany. After hard matches against Italian and French top players, the German team seems to be even more supreme. The giant goal keeper Moeller, the all round ace Kalz and Europe's best player and forward Schneider offer the Japanese team an extremely hard match.
Shin Captain Tsubasa has finished airing and it has 13 Episodes. It is also Known as: 新・キャプテン翼, New Captain Tsubasa
6. Captain Tsubasa: Asu ni Mukatte Hashire!
The third Captain Tsubasa movie is basically about a training match of the All Japan Boy Soccer Team, but most of the time you see flashbacks of former matches, for instance the final match Nankatsu vs. Toho or when Wakabayashi challenges team captains of different sports.
Captain Tsubasa: Asu ni Mukatte Hashire! has finished airing and it has 1 Episodes. It is also Known as: キャプテン翼 明日に向って走れ！, Captain Tsubasa: Ashita ni Mukatte Hashire!, Captain Tsubasa Movie (1986 Spring), Captain Tsubasa Movie 3, Captain Tsubasa: Run Toward Tomorrow
5. Captain Tsubasa: Saikyou no Teki! Holland Youth
The last Captain Tsubasa movie is about the match between Japan and Holland. After the Japanese team lost two games against this apparently supreme opponent, their confidence is at its lowest point and even Hyuga, having a hurt leg, is desperate. Thus the management tries everything to convince Wakabayashi (living in Germany) and Tsubasa (living in Brazil) to come to Holland and to help them, but both deny. Only in the second half of the third game Tsubasa appears and joins the team, giving them back their confidence and strength. With Tsubasa Ozora as their captain again, the last game ends 11:1 for Japan.
Captain Tsubasa: Saikyou no Teki! Holland Youth has finished airing and it has 1 Episodes. It is also Known as: キャプテン翼 「最強の敵！オランダユース」, Captain Tsubasa - Holland Youth, Captain Tsubasa Holland youth team, Captain Tsubasa: European Challenge, Captain Tsubasa Movie 05: Saikyu no Tenki! Hollanda Youth
4. Captain Tsubasa: Sekai Daikessen!! Jr. World Cup
In the fourth movie, the classical Japan-Europe match becomes intercontinental. This time they arrange a world cup with 4 teams: Japan, USA, "All Europe", and "All South America". In the first match, Japan easily defeats the USA 3:0 and in the second match Europe loses 2:3 against South America. In the final round S.A. shows their "soccer cyborg" Carlos Santana, a more than supreme player who seems to be undefeatable. All their classical tricks like Hyugas "Tiger Shot" or Tsubasas "Top Spin" seem to be totally worthless, but in a hard and spectacular match the Japanese learn more and more to play in unison and finally they get the win.
Captain Tsubasa: Sekai Daikessen!! Jr. World Cup has finished airing and it has 1 Episodes. It is also Known as: キャプテン翼 世界大決戦！！Ｊｒ．ワールドカップ, Captain Tsubasa MOVIE (1986 Summer), Captain Tsubasa Movie 4, Captain Tsubasa Movie 03: The great world competition! The Junior World Cup
3. Inazuma Eleven Go
Tenma Matsukaze is a new student at Raimon Junior High. Due to his love for soccer, he decides to join the school soccer team, which gained its reputation after the amazing performance shown ten years earlier in the Football Frontier International, a tournament that hosts the best youth teams the world has to offer. Unfortunately, the once renowned school doesn't have the soccer spirit it once enjoyed.
This is primarily due to the fact that soccer in Japan is now controlled by a dark entity known as the "Fifth Sector." They alone decide the fate of every match, instructing teams to either win or lose. The actions of the Fifth Sector have beaten down the country’s soccer teams, who no longer have a love for the game.
Tenma and his teammates will look to shift this paradigm and fight back against their evil oppressors. Thankfully, they will not be alone in this battle, as they will get help from a group known as the "Resistance." Cheer on the boys of Inazuma Eleven Go as they fight the good fight!
Inazuma Eleven Go has finished airing and it has 47 Episodes. It is also Known as: イナズマイレブン Go, Inazuma Eleven Go
2. Whistle!
Kazamatsuri Shou's dream has always been to become a professional soccer player, but he has one problem: he's not very good at the game. He was accepted to the prestigious Musashi no Mori Junior High, known for its top rate soccer team, but he was never able to rise beyond the rank of third stringer. After transferring to Sakura Jousui Junior High, he can finally play soccer. And, with the support of his new friends and teammates, his strong determination, and lots of hard work, his soccer skills are developing rapidly and setting Shou well on his way to achieving his dream.
Whistle! has finished airing and it has 39 Episodes. It is also Known as: ホイッスル！, Whistle!
1. The☆Doraemons: Goal! Goal! Goal!!
The Doraemons, a group of culturally different versions of the Doraemon, gather to play a game of soccer.
The☆Doraemons: Goal! Goal! Goal!! has finished airing and it has 1 Episodes. It is also Known as: ザ☆ドラえもんズ ゴール！ゴール！ゴール！！, The☆Doraemons: Goal! Goal! Goal!!
