Netflix's anime slate has exploded, with over 50% of global members watching the genre and 2024 views topping 1 billion hours, tripling in five years. The streamer pushes "anime for every fan," from shonen action to sports thrillers, via deals like MAPPA partnerships. Meanwhile, the United States is ramping up massive preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026, co-hosted with Canada and Mexico, with one particular anime that has amped up the stakes in the niche sports thriller genre: Blue Lock. 

Netflix has taken a step further for US streaming to cater both the anime and soccer emotions equally with Blue Lock. 

Netflix is adding the hit sports anime Blue Lock to its US library on April 25, 2026, just weeks before the World Cup kicks off in June. The timing places one of modern anime’s most popular soccer stories directly in front of a global audience already gearing up for the tournament. It reflects a strategic push to merge sports hype with entertainment consumption.

Produced by 8Bit studios and directed by Tetsuaki Watanabe and Shunsuke Ishikawa, the series adapts Muneyuki Kaneshiro’s manga, which has been serialized since 2018. With over 50 million copies in circulation, the story centers on a radical training program led by Jinpachi Ego. The initiative gathers 300 young strikers to compete in a high-pressure environment designed to create Japan’s ultimate goal scorer.

At the center is protagonist Isagi Yoichi, who must outplay and outlast his rivals in a ruthless system that prioritizes individual excellence. The anime blends sports action with psychological tension, setting it apart from traditional team-focused narratives. Despite criticism around season 2’s animation quality, its popularity has surged due to its intense storytelling and unique themes.

Fans Are Embracing Netflix's Dante Outing With 'Devil May Cry' Confirming The Release Date

As Netflix taps into sports-driven storytelling, it is also doubling down on high-octane anime action.

Netflix’s Devil May Cry returns for season 2 on May 12, 2026, continuing the momentum from its 2025 debut. Produced by Studio Mir and led by Adi Shankar, the series adapts Capcom’s iconic franchise. The voice cast includes Johnny Yong Bosch as Dante and Robbie Daymond as Vergil. Season 2 raises the stakes with a conflict between human and demon worlds, pushing Dante into a deeper confrontation with his brother.

The early previews have already highlighted the intense combat sequences and the return of Dante’s iconic weapons. While the series has already earned praise for its animation quality and fidelity to the source material. The showrunner, Adi Shankar, has even compared the leap in scale and tone to the evolution seen between major blockbuster sequels.

That ambition reflects Netflix’s broader investment in anime as a key pillar of its content strategy. Together, Blue Lock and Devil May Cry underline the growing influence of anime in global streaming. By pairing sports-driven drama with action-heavy storytelling, Netflix is positioning itself at the center of a rapidly expanding audience.

After ‘Castlevania’, Adi Shankar Is All Set To Produce Another Anime Based on a Video Game, Here’s All You Need To Know About ‘Devil May Cry’ on Netflix

Will you be watching Blue Lock on Netflix? Let us know in the comments.