Football Must Go On
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Uplifting docuseries about soccer, war, and resilience.
Add your rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Football Must Go On
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
FOOTBALL MUST GO ON is a docuseries that follows a Ukrainian Premier League football (soccer) club competing in the 2022-2023 season while their country is at war. Since the Russian invasion of Crimea in 2014, Shakhtar Donetsk football club has been forced to leave their home and the state-of-the-art Donbass Arena in eastern Ukraine and settle in different cities across the country to train. They must also play in a Warsaw, Poland arena when hosting and compete in UEFA matches. But since the 2022 escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, the club feels a social responsibility to play and raise the spirits of soldiers and the rest of the country. With cameras following them, Shakhtar competes in the UEFA Champions league, while club administrators, head coach Igor Jovicevic, and journalists offer their insights about the team's challenges and triumphs both on and off the field.
Is It Any Good?
The uplifting and voyeuristic soccer-centered series features a determined Ukrainian football club as it does what it can to remain active and represent its country under very difficult circumstances. The team's loss of foreign athletes after the February 2022 Russian invasion (thanks, in part, to FiFA's Annex 7 Amendment, which allows players to suspend their contracts and sign with clubs in "safe" countries for free) required Coach Igor Jovicevic to rebuild the team with many young and inexperienced players. Meanwhile, thanks to the Ukrainian economy, the only way for the club to earn revenue is to win matches and advance as far as possible during the UEFA Champions League. Constant concerns about the players' safety, and their anxiety about the safety of their families left behind, only adds to the list of difficulties. But Football Must Go On also highlights the resilience of the Ukrainian people, who are unwilling to allow the war to stop them from living their lives and enjoying the things they love. No doubt soccer fans will enjoy watching the matches, but it's the message of hope that everyone can appreciate.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the war between Russia and Ukraine. How long has this war been going on? Why? What makes the February 24, 2022 invasion different from previous acts of war between the two nations?
Football Must Go On highlights how the sport is being used to help lift the spirits of the Ukrainian people. Is there a sport in the United States that could do the same for people in the United States?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 12, 2023
- Cast: Igor Jovicevic
- Network: Paramount+
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts
- Character Strengths: Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-14
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: October 25, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate