Netflix documentary on Team USA’s World Cup torn to shreds

Months after its nightmare World Cup campaign came to an end, Team USA is once again being torn to shreds on social media.

Team USA roasted over upcoming Netflix doco

Team USA has come under heavy fire on social media once again.

On Wednesday, Netflix announced a brand new documentary, set to be released in December, that follows the women’s team’s preparation for the 2023 World Cup.

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Spoiler alert, it didn’t go well.

The most dominant nation in women’s football was chasing a third straight World Cup crown having won it all in 2015 and 2019.

The knives came out early as the team struggled to assert its usual dominance on its opponents.

In the end it all came crashing down for the top ranked team in the world as it was knocked out in one of the most absurd finishes to a game ever seen.

The Netflix announcement of the upcoming documentary, which gives viewers a look behind the curtain of the team, poured fuel all over the fire and provided critics another free shot at the team, which predicted it would reign supreme in 2023.

The Guardian’s Jonathan Liew wrote: “An amazing effort given their filming time was cut short by two weeks.”

Another user wrote: “So excited to relive that Lina Hurtig penalty in 4k again.”

A third added: “Can’t wait to see how it ends.”

Follow the most decorated team in international soccer history as they prepare for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Under Pressure: The Women’s World Cup Team premieres on December 12th. pic.twitter.com/8PijyycAK2

— Netflix (@netflix) November 28, 2023

The fallout to the USA’s elimination went nuclear as fans in America piled on the side that was being dubbed “arrogant and unlikeable”.

Images of polarising star Megan Rapinoe laughing after missing her penalty created a stir as the veteran US team suffered its worst ever World Cup result.

But it was a commercial created by US World Cup hosts Fox Sports that did the rounds online shortly after it all came to an end that did not age well.

It starts with the line: “The whole world is wondering, what’s it going to take to stop this US team?”

Rapinoe courts controversy no matter what she does. Credit: Netflix

A 1:25 long ad then weaves its way through a series of heavy, outdated stereotypes of countries trying new ways to compete with the Americans.

It has British people in dreary weather sitting on a London bus, Brazilians on the beach and some Germans in a lab using artificial intelligence “that mimmicks their every move”.

There is also a shady looking Italian complete with black turtle neck and black leather jacket overlooking US training who states: “We could steal their plays.”

A drone with Italian colours and an Italian flag on it, just in case we missed the subtlety, is then knocked out of the sky by American midfielder Rose Lavelle.

Well isn’t this hilarious now? pic.twitter.com/jfeHhe0V9R

— Ahmed Yussuf (@ahmedyussuf10) August 6, 2023

We can’t be sure, but there also appears to be an attempt at an Australian accent, with a blonde woman in a gold shirt and green and gold tie working in an airport with “Sydney” on an arrivals board over her shoulder saying “their flights could get cancelled”.

Without any hyperbole, the ad ends with a woman stating: “I mean, the entire world is going to do whatever it takes to stop the US.”

Veteran striker Alex Morgan then replies “good luck with that” with a half-smile before jogging off on the pitch.