Paramount+ Slates Doc on Ukrainian Soccer Club

Football Must Go On, chronicling the journey of Ukrainian soccer club Shakhtar Donetsk as they competed in the 2022-2023 UEFA Champions League season, is slated to premiere on Paramount+ in September.

Paramount+ and CBS Sports received access to follow the team’s players and coaches as they navigated participating in the UEFA club tournament against the backdrop of the war unfolding at home. The four-part doc, premiering in the U.S. on September 12, is directed by BAFTA winner Alex Gale (Scotland 78: A Love Story), with Emmy Award winner Pete Radovich as coordinating producer.

Football Must Go On is the latest installment in Paramount+’s Stories from the Beautiful Game soccer doc collection, which also includes Destination: European Nights and Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In.

“UEFA Champions League is the most prestigious annual soccer tournament in the world, filled with incredible drama, but we’ve never seen a team become the biggest story because of ongoing war in its homeland,” said Radovich. “A heartfelt thank you to sporting director Darijo Srna, and every staff member, player and coach at Shakhtar Donetsk for their incredible generosity and openness in allowing us to tell their story to the world.”