‘The Match’ Review: An Exciting, Accessible Documentary About Soccer and War

May 14, 2026 7:05am PT ‘The Match’ Review: An Exciting, Accessible Documentary About Soccer and War

Selected for this year's Cannes Premiere program, Juan Cabral and Santiago Franco's spitfire film examines the controversial 1986 World Cup quarter-final, which gave rise to some of sport’s most iconic images.

By Siddhant Adlakha

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Siddhant Adlakha

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Even the most casual soccer fan knows “The Hand of God,” Argentine legend Diego Maradona’s controversial goal against England in the 1986 FIFA World Cup. The volleyball-like palm strike should have been disallowed, but paved the way for some of the most magical sporting moments shortly thereafter. However, “The Match” by Juan Cabral and Santiago Franco, based on the book by Andrés Brugo, isn’t just concerned with this singular moment. Through personal testimonies and geopolitical histories, this documentary unspools the iconic quarter-final by placing it within a larger, clamorous context, resulting in one of the most absorbing and accessible documentaries ever made about the sport.

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