Today, Prime Video announced an official greenlight for Good Neighbors, a three-part docuseries about one of the most unique and intense competitions in international sports: The rivalry between the Mexican and American national men’s soccer teams. The docuseries will debut this fall around the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Good Neighbors will peel back the political, social, and sporting layers of a rivalry that has become must-see TV over the past 30 years. Far more than just a sports documentary, Good Neighbors spotlights the personal and professional arcs of stars from each nation, like Landon Donovan (U.S.) and Rafa Márquez (Mexico), who became symbols of their country’s cultures during their respective careers in the early and mid 2000s. Good Neighbors will also examine the passionate, international battle for on-field talent and fan support that has made the U.S.-Mexico border one of the most fascinating soccer frontiers in the world, with players – and families – from both countries becoming the focus of recruiting battles between these two deeply interconnected nations. The men’s national teams from both the U.S. and Mexico qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which kicks off in November.
“With anticipation building for the World Cup, we’re thrilled to bring audiences this incredible docuseries about the electric rivalry between these cross-border national teams,” said Matt Newman, head of Prime Video Original Sports Content. “Good Neighbors is the first in an exciting new slate of Original sports programming Prime Video Sports will be rolling out over the next several years. We can’t wait for fans to learn more about all the amazing content we have on the horizon.”
“Good Neighbors is the type of global storytelling we’re delighted to bring to our Prime Video customers, as we continue to expand our slate of scripted and unscripted sports programming to complement our marquee live sports offerings,” said Marie Donoghue, vice president, Global Sports Video, Amazon.
Jon Weinbach, president, Skydance Sports, said: “The U.S.-Mexico rivalry is a fantastic, multilayered narrative that is both timely and timeless, and we’re incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to work with Prime Video Sports, Meadowlark, and Ocellated in bringing this story to a global audience.”
“With its reputation, brand, worldwide distribution, and impressive portfolio of global football rights, Prime Video is a spectacular service on which to debut Good Neighbors, and surrounding the World Cup is the perfect time to do so,” said John Skipper, CEO, Meadowlark.
“We are happy to collaborate with Prime Video on this story that covers both sides of the border,” said Dante Moller, CEO, Ocellated Media. “Good Neighbors is a story that needs to be told in a balanced and profound way. The U.S.-Mexico fútbol rivalry is complex and controversial, but also displays a beautiful side of the greatest sport in the world.”
Good Neighbors is executive produced by Skydance Sports’ David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, and Jon Weinbach; Meadowlark Media’s John Skipper and Deirdre Fenton; and Ocellated Media’s Dante Moller. Good Neighbors is a co-production from Prime Video Sports and Skydance Sports, with Meadowlark Media and Ocellated producing. The series is directed by Academy Award-nominated Nicaraguan filmmaker Gabriel Serra, and will feature a wide variety of American and Mexican perspectives, with episodes accessible for both English and Spanish-speaking audiences.
