World Cup fever has officially gripped the globe, and the upcoming tournament kicks off on June 11. As a result, everyone seems to have caught the soccer bug—Netflix included. This Friday, the streaming platform premieres its new film, *Mexico 86*.
*Mexico 86* tells the story of Martín de la Torre, a low-level soccer federation employee who risks it all for his country. When instability caused by Pablo Escobar’s reign of terror forces Colombia to abandon its plans to host the 1986 World Cup, FIFA scrambles to find a new host nation. Several countries—including the United States, Egypt, Sweden, and Mexico—submit bids. Martín de la Torre decides to spearhead his country's ambitious campaign to bring the World Cup to Mexico, employing shady tactics, political maneuvering, and sheer audacity to pull it off.
Director: Gabriel Ripstein
Writers: Francisco Javier Gonzalez, Daniel Krauze, Luis Reséndiz
Stars: Diego Luna, Karla Souza, Daniel Giménez Cacho
Despite what seems like an interesting premise, a disconnect between the film and the audience becomes increasingly apparent as *Mexico 86* unfolds. The movie tends to view its subject matter as more compelling than it actually is, failing to make a sufficient effort to draw the audience into the story. Consequently, the film may appeal only to soccer fans rather than attracting the general audience Netflix is hoping for.
Furthermore, the tale of corruption and chaos surrounding the World Cup host nation bears a striking resemblance to much of FIFA’s conduct over the last few decades—something virtually any fan of the sport is well aware of. As a result, even the most ardent soccer fans might not find the film particularly captivating; the details of the 1986 World Cup preparations pale in comparison to other FIFA scandals, such as the 2015 corruption case involving Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini (ironically, the latter is mentioned in the film).
The plot of *Mexico 86* also undergoes surprising shifts as the film progresses. The first act sets up the narrative as a battle to secure the World Cup hosting rights, yet Mexico is named the host nation around the 40-minute mark. The story then shifts its focus to Diego Luna’s character as he prepares the country for the tournament—a process that involves fending off last-minute attempts by the United States to snatch the hosting duties following a devastating earthquake in Mexico that unnerves FIFA. Approaching the climax, the narrative moves beyond the 1986 World Cup itself—a peculiar creative choice that feels like a betrayal of the film's core premise.
As the plot veers in unexpected (and often disappointing) directions, *Mexico 86* maintains a lighthearted, humorous tone. Netflix markets the film as a comedy, but the attempts at humor fall flat, relying too heavily on quips that rarely land. While this breezy tone makes the movie an easy, largely entertaining watch, it also drains the story of emotional weight and urgency. At moments when tension should be at its peak, the humor—often ill-advised—strips scenes of suspense, making *Mexico 86* feel off-putting when it ought to be gripping.
As the film unfolds, it ceases to feel like a story about the Mexico World Cup and instead morphs into a biopic of Martín de la Torre. He is the central protagonist, yet hardly an exemplary figure. In fact, much of the film depicts De la Torre engaging in reprehensible behavior: cheating on his wife, bribing officials, and even falsifying players' ages so they can compete for the Mexican U-20 national team. All of this makes for an unlikable protagonist, reminiscent of Marty Supreme. However, unlike Marty, De la Torre lacks sufficient redeeming qualities, making it likely that the audience will struggle to empathize with him as things begin to go wrong.
In reality, much of the protagonist's charm and appeal stems from Diego Luna himself. Luna has enjoyed an incredible run in recent years—thanks in part to his lead role in the acclaimed Disney+ series *Andor*—so it is a shame that this streak does not continue with *Mexico 86*. That said, it is certainly not for lack of effort; Luna gives his all to make the film the best it can be, and it is largely thanks to him that *Mexico 86* holds the audience's attention. His charisma allows him to command the screen. Even though the script itself leaves something to be desired, the lead actor continues to impress.
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