I’ll forgive you if you haven’t heard of the 2014 documentary, Next Goal Wins… but now that you have, you should absolutely go watch the 2023 sports comedy-drama, Next Goal Wins. This post isn’t gonna get confusing at all….
The original documentary follows the journey of the American Samoa national soccer team as they strive for their first-ever win in an official FIFA competition. In case you were wondering… it’s pronounced SAA-mo-ah.
Yes. I’ve seen both and they are both worth your time. The documentary provides such an amazing insight into the real lives of these players; an aspect that the new adaptation mirrors beautifully.
The 2014 documentary serves as the basis for the current adaptation of “Next Goal Wins,” a fictionalised feature film directed by Taika Waititi. The feature film, as mentioned earlier, stars Michael Fassbender and Elisabeth Moss and aims to bring the story to a wider audience through a scripted, dramatic retelling of the events.
The documentary was well-received for its heartwarming and inspirational story, and Taika Waititi’s adaptation is expected to bring a mix of humour and emotion to the big screen.
The American Samoa national football team holds the unfortunate record for the heaviest defeat in international football history, having lost 31-0 to Australia in a 2001 FIFA World Cup qualification match; a record for the largest margin of defeat in international football. The film beautifully explores the team’s struggles, challenges, and efforts to improve their performance leading up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification matches.
The team’s coach at the time, Thomas Rongen, plays a central role in the film as he takes on the challenge of turning around the team’s fortunes. Rongen, a Dutch-American coach with experience in professional soccer in the United States, brings his coaching expertise to the American Samoa team and works to instil confidence and a winning mentality in the players.
I really enjoyed how the film explored multiple subplots in an easy-to-digest way. The film challenges the stereotypical attitudes of trans people in sports, along with the grief one experiences with loss in their life; just to name a few.
The film received positive reviews from audiences for its heartwarming and inspirational storytelling, as well as its portrayal of the human side of sports. Will we talk about the negative reviews? No. This film did not deserve them.
Next Goal Wins showcases the resilience and determination of the players and their pursuit of success despite numerous challenges. The documentary, and new adaptation, is not only about soccer but also about the human spirit and the transformative power of sports. Yay! Go Sports!
Till next time.