After decades in a Robben Island prison, Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) is released in 1990 and works immediately to bring about the end of apartheid and the initiation of full democratic elections where the black majority population can vote. Mandela wins the race for President of South Africa and takes office in 1994. His immediate challenge is "balancing black aspirations with white fears." The country's still-present racial tensions are shown, in part, through Mandela's security team, which is comprised of both new black and old white officials, with the groups immediately hostile to one another despite sharing the same job and goal.

While Mandela attempts to tackle the country's largest problems - including crime and unemployment, he attends a game of the Springboks, the country's rugby union team. Blacks in the stadium cheer against their home squad, as the Springboks (their history, players and even their colors) represent prejudice and apartheid in their mind. Knowing that South Africa is set to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup in one year's time, Mandela meets with Springboks captain Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon). Though Mandela never verbalizes his true meaning during their meeting, Francois understands the message below the surface: If the Springboks can gain the support of black South Africans and succeed in the upcoming World Cup, the country will be unified and inspired. Francois and his teammates begin to train, but the players (all but one are white) voice disapproval that they are to be envoys to the poor and public - fearing exhaustion from overwork. Mandela, too, hears disapproval from friends and family.

As the tournament approaches, Mandela collapses from exhaustion and the Springboks' only black player is sidelined with a hamstring injury. The World Cup begins, and the Springboks' sole black player, Chester Williams, is healthy once again. The Springboks, possessing a sub-par record, are not expected to go very far and in fact are estimated to lose in the quarterfinals; however, they surpass all expectations and make the finals, only to face a seemingly invincible team from New Zealand. Francois motivates his team to overcome their doubts and push their bodies to the limits. After ending in a tie, the game is forced into extra time, where the Springboks win on a long drop kick and a score of 15-12. Mandela and Francois meet on the field together to celebrate the improbable victory amidst a crowd of 62,000 fans - both black and white.

• Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela
• Matt Damon as Francois Pienaar
• Adjoa Andoh as Brenda Mazikubo [Mandela's Chief of Staff]
• Tony Kgoroge as Jason Tshabalala
• Leleti Khumalo as Mary
• McNiel Hendriks as Chester Williams
• Scott Eastwood as Joel Stransky
• Zak Feaunati as Jonah Lomu (whose name is incorrectly spelled "Lumu" in the closing credits)
• Grant L. Roberts as Ruben Kruger
• Rolf E. Fitschen as Naka Drotske
• Vaughn Thompson as Rudolph Straeuli
• Charl Engelbrecht as Garry Pagel
• Graham Lindemann as Kobus Wiese
• Julian Lewis Jones as Nelson Mandela's head bodyguard