Picture: Emily Bader (left) and Zoey Deutch (right)
Netflix is set to release a film inspired by the iconic 1999 USWNT team that won the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Titled The 99’ers, it will be directed by Nicole Kassell, star Emily Bader and Zoey Deutch, and is confirmed for release on the streamer in 2027. Now that filming has officially wrapped and the movie made a massive splash at the 2026 Netflix Upfronts, here’s an updated preview on everything we know so far.
The 99’ers is an upcoming Netflix Original sports drama directed by Nicole Kassell and based on the book by Jere Longman and the real-life events of the USWNT at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The script is penned by Katie Lovejoy, Dana Stevens, Jamee Decio, Jill Mazursky, and Peter Hedges.
The film is produced by Liza Chasin for 3dot Productions, alongside Ryan Reynolds, Hayley Stool, and Ross Greenburg. The executive producers on the project have been confirmed as Margaret Chernin, Marla Messing, Jill Mazursky, and Krista Smith. Working behind the scenes to capture the ’90s nostalgia are cinematographer John Guleserian, casting director Marisol Roncali, and production designer Theresa Guleserian.
3dot Productions has a creative partnership with Netflix, which produced The Life List starring Sofia Carson. The studio is also producing the upcoming Netflix film The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
What is the plot of The 99’ers?
The film will follow the journey of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, who, in the sweltering summer heat, took on tournament favorites China in the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup. In front of a packed stadium of 93,000 fans, the USWNT took the Chinese ladies to a dramatic penalty shootout, captivating millions of fans worldwide, inspiring the next generation of young stars, and forever changing the landscape of the women’s game.
Picture: The famous 99’ers lifting the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy after defeating China in the final.
What’s so special about the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup?
After winning the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup in China in 1991 and hosting the 1994 FIFA World Cup, soccer in the US saw explosive growth in popularity. While the men’s side of the game trailed behind its European counterparts and other members of CONCACAF, the women’s had arguably seen the biggest growth.
Picture: A packed Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey for the opening game of the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
In the 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the defending and inaugural champions failed to defend their championship after a 1-0 defeat to eventual champions Norway. Four years later, the USWNT had a chance to redeem itself on home soil in front of a rampant US crowd. In front of crowds exceeding 50,000, the USWNT put on a show, annihilating the competition in the group stages, putting Nigeria, North Korea, and Denmark to the sword. The knockout stages saw the USWNT face off against a strong Germany team, besting them 3-2 in a five-goal thriller. In the semi-finals, a convincing 2-0 victory against the soccer-mad nation of Brazil ensured a second World Cup final.
In front of a packed Rose Bowl in Pasadena, over 90,000 fans watched the USWNT face their toughest opponents yet, China. The Californian summer heat added to the tension as the two teams went into a dramatic penalty shootout. A perfect penalty shootout from the USWNT would see them defeat China 5-4, with Brandi Chastain scoring the winning penalty, sending her teammates and the crowd into euphoria.
Picture: One of the most iconic images in Women’s soccer is USWNT star Brandi Chastain celebrating her world cup winning penalty in the 1999 final.
Acknowledged as one of the biggest moments for women’s sport in US history, it was also a landmark moment for the women’s game as the US became the first team to win two Women’s World Cups. While it would take another 16 years for its third World Cup, the USWNT remained one of the fiercest competitors, finishing third in 2003 and 2007, and another dramatic penalty shootout in the 2011 final saw it finish as runner-up, losing 3-1 on penalties to Japan. However, they would dominate the Olympics, winning back-to-back-to-back gold medals between 2004 and 2012.
Arguably, the growth of the women’s game in the USA had a ripple effect on the entire world. In the decades since, the sport has grown considerably in popularity, with attendances up across Europe, and a dramatic increase in viewership for international championships and domestic leagues.
Who are the cast members of The 99’ers?
Emily Bader and Zoey Deutch were the first cast members confirmed for The 99’ers.
Emily Bader was the first cast member confirmed and will play the role of Mia Hamm. The actress recently found success in Netflix’s romantic comedy People We Meet on Vacation. She also starred in shows such as My Lady Jane, Charmed, and Henry Danger. As for films, she has starred in Fresh Kills and Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin.
Picture: Emily Bader in People We Meet on Vacation (left) will play Mia Hamm (right)
Zoey Deutch will play Marla Messing, the U.S. Women’s Soccer executive who oversaw the success of the 1999 World Cup. The actress recently starred in Richard Linklater’s Netflix film, Nouvelle Vague. She has starred in films such as The Disaster Artist, The Politician, The Threesome, and Zombieland: Double Tap.
Picture: Zoey Deutch in Nouvelle Vague (left) will play Marla Messing (right)
On February 19, 2026, Emilia Jones (CODA) and Alessandro Nivola (The Brutalist) were confirmed to have joined the cast. Jones will play the role of Julie Foudy, a midfielder for the USWNT who played for the team between 1988 and 2004, with 274 appearances. Nivola plays Tony DiCicco, the head coach of the USWNT from 1994 to 1999. On March 3, six additional cast members were added, including Annabel O’Hagan (Fallout) as Carla Overbeck.
Picture: (top row) Emilia Jones, Alessandro Nivola, and Annabel O’Hagan – (bottom row) Julie Foudy, Tony DiCicco, and Carla Overbeck
The other five cast members were: Julia McDermott (Up Here) as Brandi Chastain, Shaunette Renée Wilson (Black Panther) as Briana Scurry, Perry Mattfeld (In the Dark) as Michelle Akers, Lizzy Greene (Ransom Canyon) as Kristine Lilly, and Isabelle Fuhrman (Orphan) as Joy Fawcett.
Picture: (top row) Julie McDermott, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Perry Mattfield, Lizzy Greene, and Isabelle Fuhrman – (bottom row) Brandi Chastain, Brianna Scurry, Michelle Akers, Kristine Lilly, and Joy Fawcett
Since the initial announcements, we also know the following are joining the roster: Josh Charles (Dead Poets Society, The Good Wife) joins in an undisclosed acting role, alongside Liam Oh (Boots) as Garrett Hamm. Supporting cast includes Brent Bailey (The Idea of You) as Mark ‘Doc’ Adams, Jean Brassard as Sepp Blatter, and Jianna & Jeena Platon as the Twins.
What is the production status of The 99’ers?
After a short delay, principal photography officially began on April 9, 2026, and took place extensively across New Jersey. According to backstage intel from Project Casting, the New Jersey set leaned heavily into recreating the nostalgia of the ’90s, with casting calls searching specifically for background talent to accurately replicate the era’s crowds—including a casting search for a “Michael Jordan look-alike” for a key scene.
Filming officially wrapped right on schedule at the end of May 2026.
Former professional soccer player Kelly Conheeney took to Instagram to commemorate wrapping her work on the project. Conheeney’s deeply personal wrap post highlighted the profound emotional resonance of the production, sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of retro USWNT uniforms, vintage ’99 World Cup magazine covers, and period-accurate Nike Air Max 98s. She specifically credited the sports consulting and casting agency Game Changing Films for giving her “the coolest job I’ve ever had,” pointing to a heavily involved role in recreating the iconic squad’s on-pitch dynamic.
Just ahead of filming wrap, The 99’ers had a major moment at the Netflix 2026 Upfronts presentation in May. The real-life Mia Hamm and other legendary members of the 1999 World Cup-winning squad took the stage in New York City to talk about the upcoming biographical drama, generating huge excitement for the project.
Picture Credit: Netflix
You can see numerous behind-the-scenes from some of the actors, people below the line, and even some of the athletes covered across Instagram. Here are a few highlights of their posts and snaps from production:
Picture credit: Isabelle Fuhrman
Picture credit: Isabelle Fuhrman
When will The 99’ers be released on Netflix?
As noted above, the movie is part of the 2027 Netflix schedule. As for exactly when, it’s more than likely the film will be released in time for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Are you looking forward to the release of The 99’ers on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!
