Next Goal Wins (2023)
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A disgraced American football coach is hired to lead the underdog American Samoa national football team.
The story
In 2001, the American Samoa national football team suffered a 0–31 defeat against Australia, leading to a long period without notable victories. After another humiliating defeat in 2011, the federation's head announces a search for a new coach. Thomas Rongen, a coach recently sacked by the American Soccer Federation, reluctantly accepts the position. Upon arrival, Rongen is frustrated by the team's lack of skill and limited facilities. He initially struggles with the players, particularly a transgender defender named Jaiyah, leading to a minor brawl. However, after a moment of reconciliation, Rongen begins to change his training approach and show more respect toward the passionate squad.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 2001, the American Samoa national football team suffered a 0–31 defeat against Australia. After a long period of no victories, Tavita Taumua hires Thomas Rongen, a recently sacked American coach, to lead the team. Rongen is initially frustrated by the team's lack of skill and facilities, and he specifically clashes with Jaiyah, a transgender defender. After a brawl and subsequent apology, Rongen begins to respect the players' passion. Four weeks later, they face Tonga in a FIFA World Cup qualification match. Rongen chooses Jaiyah as captain. Despite a strong start, pressure causes Rongen to have an emotional outburst, and Tonga takes a 1–0 lead. In the dressing room, Rongen nearly resigns but is convinced by Taumua to stay. Rongen apologizes to the players, revealing he lost his daughter in an accident two years prior, which caused his emotional outbursts. Motivated, the team scores an equalizer. While celebrating, Taumua faints from heatstroke. After the match, Daru explains that American Samoa scored another goal while Taumua was unconscious, winning 2–1. Rongen announces his retirement from coaching to take a break. The epilogue reveals that American Samoa never fell to the bottom of the rankings again, Rongen became a scout and commentator, and Jaiyah became a FIFA ambassador for equality.
- First release year
- 2023
- Runtime (minutes)
- 104
- Production countries
- United States; United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Taika Waititi
- Writers
- Taika Waititi · screenplay; Iain Morris · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Michael Fassbender · Thomas Rongen; Oscar Kightley; Kaimana; David Fane; Rachel House; Beulah Koale; Will Arnett; Elisabeth Moss
- Genres
- sports comedy drama
- Themes
- Redemption; Cultural respect; Grief; Teamwork
- Tone and mood
- Broad; Affectionate; Funny; Goofy
- Setting
- American Samoa, 2011
- Premise and plot tags
- Sports; Comedy; Drama; Biographical; LGBTQ-related
- Source material / true-story basis
- 2014 documentary Next Goal Wins by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison
- Reception
- The film received mixed or average reviews from critics, while audiences gave it a B+ grade on CinemaScore and an 86% positive score on PostTrak.
- Reported review scores
- CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 86%
- Production trivia
- The film was originally set to be released on April 21, 2023, before being postponed twice.; The cast was unable to attend the premiere due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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