
Blind Soccer: Dreaming of the World Cup
Ali Can Pektas was born blind and plays soccer the way Lionel Messi does, dribbling past defenders before finding the corner of the goal. He does it by sound: rattles sewn into the ball reveal where it is, while coaches stationed behind each goal shout directions so players can orient themselves on the pitch. The film follows Pektas, one of Germany's best blind players, as he balances a full-time bank job with six to ten training sessions a week, chasing a spot on the German Blind Soccer National Team for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. He has already won multiple German championships with his club, SF BG Blista Marburg, and competed at European and world championships. Interviews with Pektas, his coaches, and teammates fill in how blind soccer works as a sport, from the rules that keep sighted guides honest to the discipline required to play at speed without sight. The film tracks his push toward Paris and whether the training will pay off with a place on the roster.