Next Goal Wins

The 2023 American sports comedy-drama film directed by Taika Waititi is based on the 2014 documentary of the same name and depicts the true story of the American Samoa national football team. In 2001, the team suffered a devastating 0–31 loss to Australia, marking the worst defeat in international football history. A decade later, following another humiliating performance at the Pacific Games, the nation's football federation decides to hire a new coach. Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender), a Dutch-American coach recently dismissed from the U.S. Soccer Federation, reluctantly accepts the offer. Upon arrival, Rongen faces challenges including limited resources, unskilled players, and cultural differences. His relationship with Jaiyah Saelua (Kaimana), a transgender defender and the first openly transgender athlete to compete in a World Cup qualifier, is initially strained. As Rongen confronts personal demons, including guilt over his daughter's death, he adapts his coaching methods, builds trust with the team, and inspires them to strive for success. The film culminates in a match against Tonga, where the team secures a long-awaited 2–1 victory. The narrative explores themes of perseverance, acceptance, cultural identity, and the transformative power of sports. The cast also includes Oscar Kightley, David Fane, Rachel House, Beulah Koale, Will Arnett, and Elisabeth Moss. The Toronto International Film Festival showed it first, on September 10, 2023; it reached theaters on November 17, 2023.