Overview
“Next Goal Wins” is a heartwarming sports drama set in American Samoa, focusing on the journey of its struggling soccer team.
The film begins with the team’s humiliating defeat in 2001, setting the stage for their redemption under the guidance of new coach Thomas Rongen. As Rongen immerses himself in the local culture, he forms bonds with the players and confronts his own biases, particularly through the inclusion of transgender player Jaiyah Saelua.
The team’s journey to the Independent Nation of Samoa for qualifying matches, their pivotal game against rivals Tonga, and their eventual victory symbolize themes of perseverance, acceptance, and community.
Despite mixed critical reception, with praise for its cultural depiction and heartwarming narrative, some reviewers noted potential clichés and predictability in its underdog sports story.
Overall, “Next Goal Wins” offers a touching portrayal of resilience and unity amidst adversity, earning acclaim for its uplifting message and diverse representation.
| Title | Next Goal Wins |
|---|---|
| Year | 2001 |
| Genre | Sports, Drama |
| Plot | Struggling American Samoa soccer team seeks redemption under new coach, Thomas Rongen. |
| Key Themes | Resilience, Acceptance, Community, Redemption |
| Critical Reception | Mixed reviews praising cultural depiction and heartwarming narrative, while some note clichés and predictability. |
Plot of the Movie
The movie begins with a priest (played by Taika Waititi) discussing American Samoa, known for its strong culture and religion, as well as its struggling soccer team. It shows a match from 2001 where goalkeeper Nicky Salapu (played by Uli Latukefu) allowed 31 goals, resulting in a humiliating defeat for American Samoa against Australia.
During a soccer game, Tavita Taumua (played by Oscar Kightley), who is in charge of the American Samoa Football Federation, fires their coach Ace (played by David Fane) for being too lenient on the team, which is thought to be why they perform poorly. At home, Tavita has dinner with his wife Ruth (played by Rachel House) and their son Daru (played by Beulah Koale), who also plays on the team. Tavita gets teased by other federation heads after a bet and plans to hire a new local coach. Ruth throws her sandal at Tavita and insists he hires a competent coach.
On a nearby island, coach Thomas Rongen (played by Michael Fassbender) is fired from his job due to his misconduct. At the suggestion of his ex-wife Gail (played by Elisabeth Moss), Thomas is offered a chance to coach the American Samoa team, despite their poor ranking. Reluctantly, Thomas agrees, seeing it as his only option.
Thomas travels to American Samoa and is greeted by Tavita and the team with a traditional cultural welcome. Tavita then shows Thomas to his accommodation. During his stay, Thomas drinks and listens to voice messages from his daughter Nicole.
Thomas begins coaching the team but is initially puzzled by their adherence to a nightly curfew for prayer. He meets Jaiyah Saelua, who is transgender and referred to as fa’afafine on the island. Tavita explains the cultural significance of people like Jaiyah to Thomas. However, Thomas hesitates to include her on the team and gets into a confrontation when he accidentally uses her deadname, resulting in a physical altercation.
Thomas expresses frustration with coaching the team, even considering quitting and returning home. However, Tavita encourages him to give it a chance and enjoy his time on the island. Thomas recruits a police officer named Rambo after witnessing his impressive skills. Jaiyah visits Thomas’s house with a peace offering, and they spend time together, starting to build a positive relationship. She shows him a video of the team playing and explains that past players quit because they lacked belief and support.
Jaiyah takes Thomas to a store where they find Nicky, now working there and still feeling ashamed of his past performance. Despite Thomas’s encouragement, Nicky refuses to rejoin the team. Thomas then begins to bond with the teammates individually and develops new strategies for the games.
As the qualifying matches approach, Thomas becomes dehydrated while running up a hill. The team carries him down to the ocean to cool off. Thomas begins to embrace the local culture, attending church with his teammates and earning their trust.
The team travels to the Independent Nation of Samoa for the matches. They encounter their rivals, the Tonga team, who taunt them for being the lowest-ranked team. While settling in, Thomas encounters colleagues from the soccer federation who mock American Samoa. Thomas also sees his ex-wife Gail arriving with her new boyfriend, Alex Magnussen. Alex offers Thomas a better job, but Thomas has grown attached to the team and feels more confident in their abilities. Later, Thomas spends time with Gail on the field after a few drinks.
Nicky rejoins the team just before the matches begin, which excites everyone. Before the game starts, Thomas has a conversation with Jaiyah, who is experiencing emotional distress after stopping hormone treatment. Thomas comforts her and encourages her to inspire the players.
During the game, American Samoa performs poorly from the start. During a break, Thomas expresses frustration with the team’s lack of effort. Just as he’s about to quit, Tavita calms him down and reminds him that the team just wants to enjoy playing, even if they lose. After taking a moment, Thomas returns to the team and opens up about his daughter Nicole’s death in a car accident years earlier. He admits feeling responsible for not being there for her. This emotional moment brings the team closer, and Thomas encourages them to simply have fun playing.
During the game, the American Samoa team improves. Eventually, Daru scores their first-ever goal, causing celebration. However, Tavita faints from heatstroke. Daru updates his parents on the game’s progress. Jaiyah scores another goal for the team. Despite Daru causing a penalty, Nicky blocks Tonga’s penalty shot. The game ends with American Samoa declared the winner after added time.
Thomas joins the team in celebrating their victory, despite not qualifying for the World Cup. He announces that he will stay on the island but take a different nearby job. As the sun sets, Thomas joins the team in a traditional song and dance.
The ending text mentions that after defeating Tonga, American Samoa is no longer the lowest-ranked team. Thomas Rongen becomes Chief Scout for the U.S. national team and now works as a commentator for CBS Sports. Nicky Salapu remains the team’s captain, and Tavita Taumua continues to lead the FFAS. Jaiyah Saelua, the first openly transgender athlete in a World Cup qualifier, becomes an award-winning soccer coach and a FIFA ambassador for equality.
Reasons to Watch It
Experience the captivating journey of an underdog soccer team from American Samoa, led by a diverse cast of talented actors, as they navigate cultural challenges, embrace inclusivity, and defy the odds to pursue their dreams, in this emotionally charged and inspiring true story.
Unique Cultural Setting – The movie provides a rare glimpse into the culture and traditions of American Samoa, offering an immersive experience for viewers interested in learning about this lesser-known part of the world. Underdog Story – Audiences love underdog stories, and this movie delivers just that. It follows the journey of a struggling soccer team and their coach as they defy the odds and strive for success, making it a compelling and inspiring narrative. Talented Cast – With actors like Taika Waititi, Michael Fassbender, and Uli Latukefu leading the cast, you can expect powerful performances that bring the characters to life and add depth to the story. Themes of Acceptance and Inclusion – The movie tackles important themes of acceptance and inclusion, particularly through the character of Jaiyah Saelua, who is transgender. The portrayal of her struggles and triumphs adds depth to the story and promotes messages of tolerance and understanding.
Emotional Depth – From moments of triumph to moments of vulnerability, the movie explores a wide range of emotions, making it a deeply moving and relatable experience for viewers. Sports and Team Spirit – Even for those who aren’t die-hard soccer fans, the movie’s focus on sportsmanship, teamwork, and the power of belief is universally appealing. It highlights the transformative effect that sports can have on individuals and communities. Real-Life Inspirations – The movie is based on true events, adding an extra layer of authenticity and making it all the more compelling. Knowing that these characters and their achievements are based on real people and experiences adds weight to the story. Positive Message – Ultimately, the movie delivers a positive and uplifting message about resilience, perseverance, and the importance of chasing your dreams, making it a feel-good film that leaves a lasting impression on audiences.
In conclusion, this film offers a rich tapestry of cultural exploration, inspiring underdog triumphs, stellar performances, poignant themes of acceptance, emotional depth, universal sportsmanship appeal, authentic real-life inspirations, and an uplifting message, ensuring it resonates deeply and leaves a lasting impact on viewers.
Reasons to Avoid It
This movie may not appeal to all viewers due to concerns about potential stereotypical representation, misrepresentation of true events, discomfort with sensitive themes, predictability in its underdog sports narrative, emotional intensity, lengthy runtime, sports-centric focus, and perceived lack of diversity in perspective.
Stereotypical Representation – Some viewers may be concerned about potential stereotyping or superficial portrayal of cultural elements, particularly regarding the depiction of American Samoa and its people. Potential Misrepresentation – Given that the movie is based on true events, there’s a risk of inaccuracies or misrepresentations of the real individuals and their experiences, which could lead to a skewed understanding of the actual events. Sensitive Themes – The movie tackles sensitive topics such as transgender identity, cultural differences, and personal struggles, which might be uncomfortable or triggering for some viewers. Predictability – As an underdog sports narrative, the movie may follow predictable tropes and story arcs, which could make it less appealing to those seeking more original or unpredictable storytelling.
Emotional Intensity – The movie delves into emotional depth and tackles themes of loss, redemption, and personal growth, which might be overwhelming or too heavy for viewers looking for lighter entertainment. Length – With a detailed narrative and multiple character arcs, the movie might be lengthy and require a significant time investment, which could deter viewers seeking shorter or more fast-paced films. Sports-Centric Focus – While the movie does explore broader themes beyond sports, such as cultural identity and acceptance, its primary focus on soccer and the team’s journey may not resonate with viewers who aren’t interested in sports-related narratives. Lack of Diversity in Perspective – Despite featuring a diverse cast, the movie’s perspective might still be limited, especially concerning the portrayal of marginalized communities or individuals, potentially alienating some viewers seeking more inclusive storytelling.
In summary, while this movie offers a compelling narrative and explores important themes, potential concerns about stereotypical representation, misrepresentation of true events, discomfort with sensitive themes, predictability, emotional intensity, length, sports-centric focus, and lack of diversity in perspective may deter certain viewers from engaging with it.
Critical Response
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes were divided, with 45% giving positive reviews, praising the director’s intentions but noting some shortcomings. Metacritic’s score was 44 out of 100, indicating mixed or average reviews. Audiences gave it a “B+” on CinemaScore and an overall positive score of 86% on PostTrak, with 65% saying they would recommend it.
| Review Aggregator | Rating | Consensus/Score |
|---|---|---|
| Rotten Tomatoes | 45% positive | Director’s intentions praised but some shortcomings noted |
| Metacritic | 44/100 | Mixed or average reviews |
| CinemaScore | B+ | Audience rating |
| PostTrak | 86% positive | Audience recommendation score |
Key Themes
The key themes of the movie include cultural identity and understanding, overcoming adversity, acceptance and inclusion, redemption and personal growth, teamwork and belief, cultural exchange and respect, family and community, and legacy and achievement.
Cultural Identity and Understanding – The film explores the cultural identity of American Samoa, including its strong traditions, religion, and the significance of community. Overcoming Adversity – Through the struggles of the American Samoa soccer team, the movie delves into themes of overcoming adversity, both on and off the field. Acceptance and Inclusion – The inclusion of Jaiyah Saelua, a transgender player, highlights themes of acceptance and inclusion within the team and the broader society. Redemption and Personal Growth – Characters like coach Thomas Rongen undergo personal growth and find redemption as they learn from their past mistakes and strive to make a positive impact.
Teamwork and Belief – The movie emphasizes the importance of teamwork and belief in oneself and others, showcasing how these elements can lead to remarkable achievements. Cultural Exchange and Respect – As Thomas Rongen embraces the local culture of American Samoa, the movie highlights themes of cultural exchange, mutual respect, and understanding between different communities. Family and Community – The bonds within families and communities are central to the film, with characters finding support, love, and strength from their relationships with one another. Legacy and Achievement – The movie celebrates the legacy and achievements of individuals and teams, illustrating how dedication, perseverance, and belief can lead to lasting success and positive change.
In conclusion, the movie beautifully weaves together themes of cultural identity and understanding, overcoming adversity, acceptance and inclusion, redemption and personal growth, teamwork and belief, cultural exchange and respect, family and community, and legacy and achievement, creating a rich and inspiring narrative that celebrates the human spirit and the power of unity, resilience, and belief in oneself and others.
Memorable Moments
Memorable moments from the movie include the humiliating defeat of the American Samoa soccer team in 2001, Coach Rongen’s cultural immersion, the introduction of Jaiyah Saelua, the team’s journey to the Independent Nation of Samoa, their triumphant turnaround in a pivotal game, Coach Rongen’s decision to stay, and the ending text highlighting the characters’ achievements and futures.
The humiliating defeat of the American Samoa soccer team in 2001, where goalkeeper Nicky Salapu allowed 31 goals. Coach Thomas Rongen’s arrival in American Samoa and his initial cultural immersion, including a traditional welcome from the team. The introduction of Jaiyah Saelua, a transgender player, and the subsequent confrontation between her and Coach Rongen, leading to a significant moment of understanding and acceptance. Coach Rongen’s emotional journey, including his struggles with coaching the team, bonding with individual players, and ultimately embracing the local culture.
The team’s trip to the Independent Nation of Samoa for the qualifying matches, where they face off against their rivals, the Tonga team. The pivotal game where American Samoa’s team, despite performing poorly initially, experiences a turnaround and ultimately wins, leading to celebration and unity. Coach Rongen’s decision to stay in American Samoa and take a different nearby job, signifying his commitment to the team and the community. The ending text highlighting the achievements and futures of key characters, including Thomas Rongen, Nicky Salapu, Tavita Taumua, and Jaiyah Saelua, providing a sense of closure and hope for the future.
All in all, the movie intricately weaves together moments of defeat, cultural immersion, acceptance, and triumph, culminating in a narrative of resilience, unity, and hope for the future of American Samoa’s soccer team and its community.
Streaming Platforms
“Next Goal Wins” became available for purchase and rental on digital platforms starting from January 16, 2024. Following its digital release, the film was also released on Blu-ray and DVD formats, hitting shelves on February 27, 2024.
