El Partido
A reflective football documentary revisits Argentina's 1986 World Cup clash with England as sport charged with the memory of war.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- reflective
- tense
- melancholic
- football match night
- history documentary viewing
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The 1986 quarter-final is presented as the culmination of tensions between Argentina and England after the Falklands War.
The film connects the match's significance to broader Argentine-English tensions rather than treating it as an isolated game.
The featured participants include Argentine players Jorge Valdano, Jorge Burruchaga, Ricardo Giusti, and Julio Olarticoechea, alongside English players Gary Lineker and John Barnes.
The World Cup quarter-final is framed as a defining memory shaped by the recent Falklands conflict and football's national importance.
Films like El Partido, and why
Diego Maradona
shared sports-documentary focus, national identity, and emotionally charged historical memory
The Two Escobars
shared examination of football as a vehicle for politics, identity, and collective emotion
Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos
shared archival sports storytelling and exploration of international rivalry beyond the playing field
Movie Details
- Directors
- Juan Cabral, Santiago Franco
- Release Date
- 2026-05-21
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (4)
Cast
- Gary Lineker
- Jorge Valdano
- John Barnes
- Jorge Burruchaga
- Ricardo Giusti
- Julio Olarticoechea
- Oscar Ruggeri
- Peter Shilton
Common questions
- What is El Partido about?
- A reflective football documentary revisits Argentina's 1986 World Cup clash with England as sport charged with the memory of war.
- What is El Partido like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of El Partido as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is El Partido violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in El Partido.
- Which films are like El Partido?
- Films with a similar feel include Diego Maradona, The Two Escobars, and Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos.
- How long is El Partido?
- El Partido runs 91 minutes.
