Matthew McConaughey plays coach in teen soccer film 'Dallas Sting'

Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey has been signed for "Dallas Sting", which tells the fact-based story of how a group of Dallas high school girls headed to China in 1984 as the ultimate underdogs and beat some of the best women's teams from China, Australia and Italy, reports 'Deadline'.

Kari Skogland is to direct the film developed by Skydance and Berlanti Schechter Productions. Apple, which has an overall deal with Skydance, has first bite at the film and a deal is expected to happen before production begins this fall in New Orleans.

Skydance's David Ellison, Dana Goldberg ,and Don Granger are producing with Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Robbie Rogers. Michael McGrath is executive producer. Those producers won a movie auction to acquire an unpublished article by Flinder Boyd.

In 1984, US President Ronald Reagan made a concerted effort to open relations with China. China, in turn, invited America to send its team to the first world championship they were holding for women's soccer. There was only one problem - there was no US Women's Soccer Team.