For years, Eli Mengem has been one of football’s most compelling storytellers, chronicling the game’s cultural impact beyond the pitch. As a key figure at COPA90, his work—whether through Derby Days, The Real International Break, or now Once in a Lifetime: Argentina—has brought fans closer to the emotional heart of football.

 

His latest documentary, Once in a Lifetime: Argentina, dives into Argentina’s historic 2022 FIFA World Cup victory, capturing what it meant to a nation where football is more than just a sport—it’s an identity. The four-part series, available on COPA90’s YouTube channel, doesn’t just recount the goals and the glory; it explores the passion, the chaos, and the deep emotional connection between the Argentine people and their team.

 

We spoke with Eli about the making of the documentary, the unpredictable nature of storytelling, and what he learned from immersing himself in Argentina’s football culture.

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When did you first realise you were onto something special with Once in a Lifetime: Argentina?  

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I think I knew something special was happening after the quarter finals penalty shootout. The match had so much drama from Argentina taking an early lead to the crazy Dutch come back in the final minutes and seconds to the never-ending antics between the players and even coaches, and then that penalty shoot-out. I felt as soon as the penalty kicks ended, we were onto something special. 

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Was it always part of the plan to bypass showing the actual goals from the World Cup?  

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Great question, I think with any documentary you’re going to have to over glorify or oversimplify a little bit as you are restrained by time limits and you need it to be entertaining, but the key is to keep it as honest as possible. The way I did that was through my interviews where I tried to speak to an array of different people from different perspectives and when hearing their opinions challenging them with the alternative opinions we had heard from different people. 

  

You were able to really capture how much football means to Argentinians from every demographic (with some even taking it to violent extremes). Were you surprised to see just how passionate people were? Did those experiences feel different from the types of fans you’ve met in other places? 

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Inevitably, when it comes to football in Argentina no matter how prepared you are, Argentinians will surprise you with their passion for the game, especially the World Cup. Having been there so many times for other films I thought I had seen it all but yes even I was taken aback at what the tournament was doing to people. As for whether they felt different to other places, absolutely. Argentina is completely unique in the level of chaos football creates in its people. 

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If Argentina hadn’t won the World Cup, how do you think the narrative of Once in a Lifetime: Argentina would have shifted? Would you have still wanted to put the documentary out there? 

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If Argentina hadn’t won the World Cup we still would have released the film but it would have been a very different melancholic, perhaps even nefarious ending. I believe there still would have been an appreciation for Messi and the run they went on, but things would not have played out well on the streets of the country and sadly we would have seen the other side of what football can do to a country as passionate as Argentina. 

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Werner Herzog once said, 'If you start filming, something happens.' Did you find that philosophy applied to Once in a Lifetime: Argentina? Were there any moments or discoveries during filming that took you by surprise or shifted the direction of the documentary? 

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That’s a great quote, and he’s right, sometimes the best stuff captured is when you least expect it. That was certainly the case when we captured the man with the gun as I didn’t even know that my cameraman was filming. There were so many moments the film shifted direction, not just in terms of dark moments like that but even random interviews or people we met. The reality is when you’re filming a place like Argentina during a World Cup, chaos and characters appear out of every corner and that is why I was so determined to not watch the final but move from location to location to watch the people. 

 

Where to Watch: 

 

Once in a Lifetime: Argentina is streaming now on COPA90’s YouTube channel. You can watch Episode 1 here. 

 

For anyone who loves football, great storytelling, or the raw emotion of a nation united by sport, this is a documentary that shouldn’t be missed. Eli Mengem has once again proven that football is about so much more than the game—it’s about the people, the moments, and the stories that make it truly once in a lifetime.