It's All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Football

Netflix’s "It’s All Over" Doc Dives Into the Kiss That Rocked Spanish Football

The 2023 Women’s World Cup was supposed to be Spain’s coronation—a first-ever title for a team stacked with generational talent. Instead, it became a flashpoint for a scandal that exposed deep rot in Spanish football. latestnetflix.com's read is that netflix’s new documentary, "It’s All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Football" (2024), pulls back the curtain on the fallout, giving the players at the center of the storm an unfiltered platform to tell their story.

Directed by Joanna Pardos, the film zeroes in on the infamous moment when then-Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales kissed Jennifer Hermoso on the lips during the medal ceremony—a non-consensual act that ignited global outrage. But as the documentary makes clear, the kiss was just the tip of the iceberg. The real story is about systemic abuse, player rebellion, and a federation in crisis.

The Players Take Control

The documentary’s biggest draw is its access. Hermoso, Alexia Putellas, Irene Paredes, Aitana Bonmatí, and the rest of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad—collectively known as Las 15—speak candidly about the events leading up to and following the kiss. According to snippets from reviews, the film doesn’t just rehash the scandal; it frames it as a turning point for women’s football in Spain, where players finally said "se acabó" ("it’s over") to years of mistreatment.

The title itself, "#SeAcabó: Diario de las campeonas" (Spanish for "It’s Over: Diary of the Champions"), underscores the players’ defiance. The documentary reportedly includes never-before-seen footage of team meetings, private conversations, and the internal fractures that emerged as the controversy escalated. For a squad that had just made history, the aftermath was anything but celebratory.

Beyond the Kiss: A Culture of Corruption

While the kiss was the spark, the documentary digs into the kindling: a federation plagued by mismanagement, harassment, and a refusal to modernize. Pardos, in an interview tied to the film’s release, describes the RFEF as an institution resistant to change, where women’s football was treated as an afterthought despite its growing success.

The film doesn’t shy away from the broader implications. The players’ boycott of the national team, their public statements, and the eventual ousting of Rubiales are all framed as part of a larger reckoning. Reviews suggest the documentary paints a damning portrait of an organization that prioritized control over progress—until the players forced its hand.

A Movement, Not Just a Scandal

What sets "It’s All Over" apart from typical sports docs is its focus on the players as architects of change. The film isn’t just about one controversial moment; it’s about how that moment galvanized a team to demand better. The inclusion of Las 15’s voices—unfiltered and unmediated by federation spin—gives the documentary an urgency that resonates beyond football.

Critics have praised the film for its raw, intimate approach. A review from The Peach Review awards it an 8/10, calling it a "must-watch for anyone interested in the intersection of sports, power, and gender". With Spanish audio and English subtitles (and dubbing), the documentary ensures the players’ stories reach a global audience.

What’s Next for Spanish Women’s Football?

The documentary’s release comes at a pivotal time. Spain’s women’s team is rebuilding under new leadership, but the scars of the Rubiales era remain. "It’s All Over" doesn’t just document the past—it asks whether the changes demanded by the players will stick.

For now, the film shows their resilience. As one snippet puts it, the kiss didn’t just change Spanish football; it forced a conversation about who really controls the game. Whether that conversation leads to lasting reform remains to be seen, but the players have made one thing clear: they’re not backing down.