Streaming service Crunchyroll has rounded up sports anime that fans can watch during the FIFA World Cup, highlighting titles inspired by football, volleyball, basketball, figure skating and racing.
The lineup includes “BLUE LOCK” and “Shoot! Goal to the Future,” both centered on football, as well as volleyball series “Haikyu!!,” basketball anime “Kuroko’s Basketball,” American football title “Eyeshield 21,” figure skating series “Yuri!!! on ICE,” and racing anime “MF GHOST.”
According to Crunchyroll, the featured series reflect the competitive spirit found across different sports.
“While football takes center stage this season, the spirit of sport extends far beyond the pitch. From aspiring strikers chasing World Cup dreams and volleyball teams fighting for every point, to basketball prodigies, figure skaters, and athletes determined to overcome their own limitations, these stories capture the drive to push further, compete harder, and never give up,” the release read.
Among the recommendations is “BLUE LOCK,” which follows 300 high school football players competing in a rigorous training program to become Japan’s next national team striker.
Volleyball fans can also watch “Haikyu!!,” which centers on Shoyo Hinata as he pursues his dream of becoming a top volleyball player alongside former rival Tobio Kageyama.
Meanwhile, “Shoot! Goal to the Future” follows former national champion Atsushi Kamiya as he returns to his alma mater to coach a struggling football team.
The list also includes “Kuroko’s Basketball,” about basketball players Taiga Kagami and Tetsuya Kuroko; “Eyeshield 21,” which follows a timid student whose speed earns him a place on an American football team; “Yuri!!! on ICE,” centered on figure skater Yuri Katsuki’s return to competition; and “MF GHOST,” a racing series set in a future where self-driving electric vehicles have become the norm.
The recommendations were released in conjunction with the ongoing FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The World Cup soccer final is set to take place in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just outside of New York City on July 19, according to Reuters.
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