12 Anime Like Haikyu!! June 2026
Haikyu!! fans crave electric sports-shonen energy: an underdog team building chemistry through relentless training and growth, then channeling it into nail-bitingly tense matches that fuse pure hype with real heart. These picks deliver that same blend of camaraderie, rivalry, and emotional payoff. Every recommendation below appears across multiple independent "anime like Haikyu!!" lists and community threads — consensus picks first, with the exact reason each one matches. Last verified June 16, 2026.
💖 The list, ranked
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1
Kuroko no Basket
The closest twin: a freshman duo, specialty-player roles, and explosive matches mirror Haikyuu's positional, team-first hype.
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2
Ace of Diamond
Baseball's answer to Haikyuu: long-form team development, deep training arcs, and rotating pitcher/catcher drama with believable tension.
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3
Run with the Wind
A ragtag dorm assembles a relay team from scratch, fusing endurance stakes with some of the genre's most heartfelt character arcs.
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4
Slam Dunk
The foundational team-sport shonen: a delinquent grows into a baller as Shohoku claws up from underdog to contender.
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5
Blue Lock
High-stakes soccer with the same competitive electricity and ego-driven rivalries, sharpened to a cutthroat edge.
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6
Yowamushi Pedal
An otaku-turned-cyclist and a club of close-knit teammates capture Haikyuu's underdog spirit and shared-suffering bonds.
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7
Welcome to the Ballroom
From Haikyuu's studio Production I.G: a beginner's obsessive growth into competitive dance, with gorgeous motion and rising-tension showcases.
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8
Yuri on Ice
Figure skating channels the same raw athletic emotion and personal-struggle stakes that power Haikyuu's biggest moments.
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9
Free!
Competitive swimming built on teammate bonds, rivalries, and friendship, with the same warmth between members.
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10
Eyeshield 21
American football with rapid strategic plays, distinct team roles, humor, and Haikyuu-grade growth arcs.
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11
Big Windup!
A timid pitcher learns to trust his battery and team in a tender, detailed take on baseball's mental game.
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12
Ping Pong the Animation
A stylized, psychologically deep table-tennis drama about talent, drive, and what competition does to two friends.
❓ FAQ
What anime is the closest match to Haikyuu?
Kuroko no Basket is the consensus closest match, sharing the freshman-duo setup, specialty-player roles, and explosive team-first matches; Ace of Diamond is the closest in baseball form.
What is the best sports anime to watch if you like Haikyuu?
Kuroko no Basket, Ace of Diamond, and Run with the Wind top nearly every recommendation list for fans wanting the same team chemistry and match hype.
Which anime have the best underdog-team story like Haikyuu?
Run with the Wind, Slam Dunk, and Yowamushi Pedal are the strongest underdog-team picks, each building a scrappy group into real contenders.
What training-and-growth shonen feels like Haikyuu?
Ace of Diamond, Eyeshield 21, and Welcome to the Ballroom lean hardest into detailed training arcs and step-by-step skill growth.
What other ball-sport anime are like Haikyuu?
Kuroko no Basket (basketball), Slam Dunk (basketball), Blue Lock (soccer), Ace of Diamond (baseball), and Big Windup! (baseball) are the core ball-sport recommendations.
📚 Sources
Cross-checked against: CBR — 10 anime to watch if you love Haikyuu!! · Anime-Planet — Haikyuu!! recommendations. Last verified June 16, 2026.