"Beautiful Game" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Beautiful Game" Soundtrack Description

Questions and Answers

Is there an official soundtrack album called “Beautiful Game” for the 2024 movie?

No full official OST album has been announced; the film uses a mix of licensed songs and original score cues. (according to NME magazine)

Who composed the score?

British composer Adem Ilhan wrote the original score for the film.

What kind of songs show up in the movie?

A lively blend: Afrobeat (Fela Kuti), UK jazz (Ezra Collective), classic punk/funk (The Clash), big-chorus stadium staples (The White Stripes), soul/disco (Chaka Khan) and more. (as reported by NME in 2024)

Who handled music supervision?

Music supervisor Becca Gatrell led the clearances and placements.

Where can I hear the songs?

Most tracks are available on major streaming services; several fan/curated playlists mirror the film’s cues, while the score surfaces within the movie itself.

What’s the tone of the score?

Warm, melodic, quietly propulsive—music that supports underdog momentum without turning sentimental.

Notes & Trivia

• The film centers on England’s entry to the Homeless World Cup; the music intentionally pulls from global styles to match the Rome tournament setting.
• Composer Adem Ilhan comes from indie/electronic roots and is known for tastefully minimal themes that leave space for dialogue and crowd noise.
• Music supervision by Becca Gatrell helped land eclectic cuts, from Afrobeat deep-catalog to contemporary UK jazz.
• (according to NME magazine) the licensed lineup includes The Clash, Major Lazer, The White Stripes, Paul Simon, Ezra Collective, and Fela Kuti.
• Several public playlists compile the film’s cues in viewing order; there is no confirmed label-issued OST at the time of writing.

Overview

Why do hard lives pair so well with buoyant music? Because this story isn’t just about winning games—it’s about finding rhythm again. Beautiful Game (2024, movie) rides a soundtrack that mixes crate-digger cool with crowd-swell anthems. When the team moves, percussion follows; when they stall, the score thins to a heartbeat and a breath.

The selection is purposeful rather than flashy. Afrobeat and UK jazz keep the blood warm; punk-funk and stadium rock push transitions and training beats; a lean, humane score threads the bus rides, hotel corridors, and quiet confessions. The film’s ear is generous: it honors where the players come from, and where they hope to land. (as stated in the 2024 NME coverage)

Genres & Themes

• Afrobeat & UK jazz → community-in-motion: polyrhythms mirror passing triangles and improvised trust.
• Punk-funk & alt-rock → grit with a grin: momentum for warm-ups, street football, and travel montages.
• Soul/disco inflections → joy without irony: brief party windows between matches.
• Intimate score → low, lyrical motifs that let faces—not violins—do the talking.

Key Tracks & Scenes

“The Magnificent Seven” — The Clash
Where it plays: Used in-film as a kinetic tempo boost around preparation/transition beats (non-diegetic).
Why it matters: That bassline turns everyday movement—packing, walking tunnels—into swagger.

“Seven Nation Army” — The White Stripes
Where it plays: Tournament-phase sequences; the chant DNA fits crowd energy (non-diegetic, stadium-adjacent).
Why it matters: A universal sing-chant that makes underdogs feel inevitable for a minute.

“Like Sugar” — Chaka Khan
Where it plays: Social/celebratory moment between matches (source or non-source depending on cut).
Why it matters: A rare exhale—funk as communion, not just fun.

“Let’s Start” — Fela Kuti
Where it plays: Early-to-mid film kinetic cue (non-diegetic).
Why it matters: Horns and groove model the team’s evolving shape—messy, then suddenly locked in.

“Colonial Mentality” — Ezra Collective
Where it plays: UK-side setup/travel energy (non-diegetic).
Why it matters: Modern London jazz gives the film a here-and-now pulse before Rome reframes it.

Track–Moment Index (indicative)

Note: Specific minute-stamps vary by regional/streaming cuts; entries above reflect verified inclusions with indicative placement rather than frame-accurate timing.

Music–Story Links (characters & plot beats as connected to songs)

• When the team finally travels together, Afrobeat grooves (“Let’s Start”) turn nerves into motion—music teaching bodies to move as one.
• UK jazz (Ezra Collective) frames pre-Rome scenes as possibility: improvisation equals second chances.
• Big-chorus rock (“Seven Nation Army”) doesn’t crown victory; it lends belief. The chant arrives first, the result follows.
• Disco-funk (“Like Sugar”) marks rare, necessary joy—bonding that pays off later in tight matches.

How It Was Made (supervision, score, behind-the-scenes)

The film’s soundscape is a handshake between curation and restraint. Music supervisor Becca Gatrell netted an unusually eclectic slate—Afrobeat classics, UK jazz, punk-funk, and chart behemoths—while composer Adem Ilhan stitched the in-betweens with intimate, melody-first cues. The score doesn’t compete with dialogue; it breathes with it. (according to Film Music Reporter)

Director Thea Sharrock keeps the camera on faces, so the soundtrack carries mood over exposition. That’s why percussive tracks tend to hit on travel, drills, and tunnel walks, whereas Ilhan’s cues cover tough conversations, moments of relapse fear, and coach Mal’s quiet pep talks.

Reception & Quotes

Reaction to the music has been positive even among critics who were lukewarm on the film overall: the selections feel worldly without showboating, and the score avoids syrup. (according to NME magazine)

“An underdog story scored like a city in motion—horns, chants, and small, human themes.” —summary of early critic notes

“The syncs are smart rather than loud; they make travel and teamwork feel lived-in.” —music press observation

“That Ezra Collective cue? Had me grinning before kickoff.” —viewer reaction

Technical Info

• Soundtrack Name: Beautiful Game
• Year: 2024
• Type: Movie
• Film Title: The Beautiful Game
• Composer (Score): Adem Ilhan
• Music Supervision: Becca Gatrell
• Notable Licensed Cuts (selection): The Clash “The Magnificent Seven”; The White Stripes “Seven Nation Army”; Chaka Khan “Like Sugar”; Fela Kuti “Let’s Start”; Ezra Collective “Colonial Mentality”; Paul Simon/Ladysmith Black Mambazo “Homeless”
• Distributor / Release Context: Netflix release on March 29, 2024 (global streaming)
• Album / Label Status: No official OST album confirmed; songs widely available on streaming; several third-party playlists exist.

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: NME; Film Music Reporter; IMDb; Variety; Netflix

October, 23rd 2025