The movie follows the journey of Santiago Munez (played by Kuno Becker) from his humble beginnings in the Barrios section of Los Angeles to becoming a professional footballer for Newcastle United in England. Santiago's father immigrated to the US from Mexico and worked hard to provide for his family, but Santiago's passion for football puts a strain on their relationship.
Santiago works various odd jobs while playing football in his free time, but it's not until Glen Foy (played by Stephen Dillane), a former footballer turned scout, spots Santiago playing in a local park that his dream becomes a possibility. Glen offers Santiago a tryout with Newcastle United, but Santiago's lack of proper documentation makes it difficult for him to obtain a work permit.
Santiago eventually makes it to England thanks to his grandmother selling her restaurant to pay for his plane ticket. He impresses Newcastle's coach, Erik Dornhelm (played by Marcel Iures), during the tryout and earns a spot on the team. Santiago faces challenges adjusting to life in a new country and dealing with personal issues, but with the help of his teammates and coach, he perseveres and becomes a successful player.
The movie features real-life footballers such as David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, and Raul, and includes actual footage of Newcastle United matches. It was directed by Danny Cannon and produced by Mike Jefferies, Matt Barrelle, and Mark Huffam. Goal! The Dream Begins was followed by two sequels, Goal II: Living the Dream and Goal III: Taking on the World.