Name: Under Pressure: The U.S. Women's World Cup Team
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2023-12-12T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Alex Morgan, Lindsey Horan, Alyssa Thompson, Savannah DeMelo, Lynn Williams

The screen fades to black, the crowd’s roar replaced by stunned silence. Alex Morgan sits alone on the bench, her helmet in her hands, her face unreadable. This is how Under Pressure: The U.S. Women’s World Cup Team begins—not with victory, not with triumph, but with defeat. Creator Rebecca Gitlitz makes a bold choice here, rejecting the conventional sports documentary arc that demands catharsis and underdog redemption. Instead, she delivers something rarer: an unflinching look at failure.

Gitlitz’s four-part docuseries follows the U.S. Women’s National Team through their 2023 FIFA World Cup campaign, offering unprecedented access to the inner workings of one of soccer’s most storied teams. The series premieres on Netflix in December 2023, a follow-up to the team’s previous successes and struggles. What sets Under Pressure apart is its willingness to linger in the discomfort of loss rather than rush toward redemption.

The craft here is meticulous. Gitlitz and her team capture intimate moments that feel almost voyeuristic in their rawness—a coach’s voice cracking as he pleads with his players, a star striker’s tear-streaked face after a missed penalty. The sound design amplifies the tension: the echo of an empty stadium after a heartbreaking loss, the hushed whispers in the locker room before a high-stakes match. These choices create an immersive experience that transcends traditional sports documentary fare.

The series’ originality lies in its refusal to conform to expectations. While most documentaries about elite athletes focus on their physical prowess or strategic genius, Under Pressure zooms in on the psychological toll of competition. This is evident in scenes like Lindsey Horan’s post-match interview, where her voice trembles as she admits, “We didn’t give ourselves a chance.” The camera holds on these unguarded moments longer than comfort dictates, forcing viewers to confront the stark reality of failure.

Performances are a mixed bag. The players’ unfiltered reactions—whether celebrating a goal or consoling one another after a loss—carry more weight than any scripted monologue could. Carli Lloyd’s emotional farewell receives only cursory treatment, squandering an opportunity to delve deeper into the psychological weight of retirement amid defeat. Megan Rapinoe‘s absent presence looms large, hinting at unresolved tensions within the team that the series only brushes against.

Where the docuseries falters is in its pacing and structure. Gitlitz stuffs each episode with wall-to-wall match footage and repetitive training montages, creating a sense of narrative whiplash. The inclusion of rising stars like Alyssa Thompson and veterans such as Abby Wambach offers glimpses of compelling generational conflict, but these threads are never fully explored. The series also struggles to balance its dual focus on the team’s collective journey and individual arcs, resulting in moments that feel disjointed.

Thematically, Under Pressure explores the intersection of identity, pressure, and public expectation. It delves into how the players navigate their roles as both athletes and cultural icons, a theme particularly relevant given the team’s history of advocating for gender equality in sports. However, these deeper themes are often overshadowed by the series’ relentless focus on the tournament itself.

In terms of genre fit, Under Pressure occupies a unique space between traditional sports documentaries and reality TV. While it shares the latter’s unscripted, behind-the-scenes approach, it lacks the dramatic tension that typically drives narrative-driven reality shows. This makes the series more appealing to hardcore soccer fans and documentary enthusiasts than to casual viewers seeking entertainment.

Ultimately, Under Pressure succeeds as a sobering counterpoint to the mythos of American soccer dominance. It’s a documentary unafraid to let its subjects stumble, making it a refreshing departure from conventional sports fare. The series is particularly poignant in its depiction of the players’ vulnerability, a quality rarely showcased in mainstream sports media.

Gitlitz’s direction is both the series’ greatest strength and its Achilles’ heel. Her ability to capture raw, unfiltered moments is unparalleled, but her reliance on repetitive match footage and lack of narrative cohesion detract from the overall impact. The docuseries would have benefited from a more selective approach, focusing on key moments that encapsulate the team’s journey rather than attempting to cover every aspect of their campaign.

The performances by the players are a testament to the series’ authenticity. Their unguarded reactions and emotional vulnerability make for compelling viewing, even if some narrative threads are left unexplored. The absence of Megan Rapinoe, in particular, is notable and raises questions about the team’s internal dynamics that the series only briefly touches upon.

Comparatively, Under Pressure stands out from other sports documentaries like The Last Dance. While these series often focus on individual heroes or historic moments, Gitlitz’s docuseries offers a more nuanced and introspective look at the collective experience of competition. This makes it a valuable addition to the sports documentary genre, even if its pacing and structure leave something to be desired.

In terms of audience appeal, Under Pressure is likely to resonate most with hardcore soccer fans and documentary enthusiasts. Casual viewers may find the series’ lack of dramatic tension and repetitive match footage less engaging.