How Pelé and George Best Shaped Soccer’s Journey in America: A Look at the New TNT Sports Documentary
EXCLUSIVE: Enthusiasm for soccer is surging among U.S. fans as World Cup fever grips the nation. In response, TNT Sports is set to delve into a pivotal moment in American soccer history from 50 years ago.
As TNT prepares to transition to HBO Max in the UK tomorrow, the network is launching a new documentary titled When Soccer Came to America: Goals, Glamour and the Beautiful Game. This film highlights the era when soccer legends Pelé, George Best, and Johan Cruyff brought significant attention to the sport in the U.S.
Produced by ITN Productions (ITNP), known for The Investigation of Lucy Letby, the documentary explores the rapid growth of the North American Soccer League (NASL) during the 1970s and 1980s, a time when some of the greatest players in soccer history joined the league. This movement laid the groundwork for renewed interest in soccer, which would later be reignited by figures like David Beckham and Lionel Messi.
The film employs archive footage and features interviews with Pelé’s daughter and Best’s son, detailing how the NASL evolved into a cultural phenomenon that fused sport, celebrity, and ambition in an American quest to popularize the game. Central to this narrative is Pelé’s signing with the New York Cosmos, a pivotal event that sparked a soccer boom throughout the country. The documentary also revisits Best’s influence in the league and Cruyff’s brief yet memorable tenure in North America.
The documentary marks ITNP’s inaugural project for TNT Sports. “We’re delighted to work with TNT Sports on this project – just as America is preparing to host the World Cup,” stated Ian Rumsey, ITN’s content chief. “This is an amazing story, and the archive we discovered will bring it to life for a new generation of fans preparing for the greatest show on earth.”
The United States is set to host the soccer World Cup for the first time since 1994 in just a few months.
This initiative coincides with TNT Sports’ transition to HBO Max, as the streaming service prepares to launch in the UK.
Oliver Price serves as the producer and director of When Soccer Came to America, with Andy Dunn as executive producer, Hollie Clark as production manager, and Natalie Chow as development assistant producer.
