Next Goal Wins (2023 film)

Next Goal Wins is a 2023 American sports comedy-drama film directed by Taika Waititi, who co-wrote the screenplay with Iain Morris. It is based on the 2014 documentary of the same name by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison about Dutch-American coach Thomas Rongen's efforts to lead the American Samoa national football team, considered one of the weakest association football teams in the world, to qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The film stars Michael Fassbender as Rongen, alongside Oscar Kightley, Kaimana, David Fane, Rachel House, Beulah Koale, Will Arnett, and Elisabeth Moss.

Next Goal Wins premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2023, and was released in the United States on November 17, 2023, by Searchlight Pictures.

Plot
In 2001, the American Samoa national football team suffers a 0–31 defeat against Australia. Since then, the team goes through a long period without any notable victories. After yet another humiliating defeat in 2011 Pacific Games, Tavita Taumua who heads the nation's football federation announces that he will hire a new coach. Meanwhile in the United States, football coach Thomas Rongen has just been sacked by American Soccer Federation. He is then offered to become the new coach for American Samoa. Because he doesn't want to live without job, Rongen reluctantly accepts the offer. When Rongen begins his new job, Rongen is frustrated by the players' lack of football skill and the islands' limited facilities. He also dislikes Jaiyah — the American Samoa player who happens to be a transgender (fa'afafine) — because he thinks Jaiyah lacks discipline and focus. Eventually, the two are involved in minor brawl after Rongen taunts Jaiyah by calling Jaiyah with her legal birth name.

Jaiyah later visits Rongen's house to apologize and the two agree to forgive each other. With Jaiyah's help, Rongen travels around the islands to recruit new faces for the squad. Rongen changes his training approach and begins to show more respect toward the American Samoan players and staff. Although they lack football skill and have to work at multiple jobs, they are still passionate enough to do everything to support the national team. Four weeks after Rongen's first arrival in American Samoa, the team are finally ready to play their first competitive match under Rongen: against Tonga in a FIFA World Cup qualification match. Rongen chooses Jaiyah as the captain for this match. American Samoa start the match well. However, the pressure begins to affect the American Samoa players after Rongen repeatedly yells, and throws a tantrum in front of his players. Eventually, Tonga are able to score first after intercepting a pass from their opponent. The first half ends with Tonga leading 1-0.

During the half-time break in the dressing room, Rongen angrily calls the players useless and accuses them of not trying to play seriously. Rongen later announces his resignation from the head coach position and plans to leave the stadium immediately. Before Rongen is able to leave the stadium, Taumua convinces Rongen to rethink his decision. Eventually, Rongen changes his mind and returns to the dressing room. Rongen apologizes to his players and tells his players to play as they want without needing to worry about the result. Rongen also admits that two years prior, he lost his daughter in an accident. That event affected Rongen so deeply that he continues to feel guilty and often shows emotional outbursts throughout his managerial career. Feeling touched and motivated by Rongen's speech, the American Samoa players play a lot better in the second half. Eventually they are able to score a goal, making the score 1-1. However, when the players and staffs are celebrating the goal, Taumua suddenly faints due to heatstroke.

Taumua later wakes up in a room when the match has ended. His son, Daru, who also plays at that match, later explains that when his father was still unconscious, American Samoa were able to score another goal and ended the match in 2-1 victory. Later during the gathering with American Samoa players and staffs, Rongen announces that he will leave his position as American Samoa head coach because he wants to take an extended break from football. Although initially shocked, Taumua accepts Rongen's decision and wishes him well for the future. The epilog covers what happened after the events of the film. After defeating Tonga 2-1 in 2011, American Samoa has never again been at the bottom of the world rankings. Rongen went on to be the Chief Scout for the United States national team, before working as commentator at CBS Sports. Jaiyah was the first openly transgender athlete to compete in a World Cup Qualifier, and later became FIFA ambassador for equality.

Development
It was announced in August 2019, that Fox Searchlight Pictures had set up an initially unspecified project that would see Taika Waititi write and direct prior to his obligations to Thor: Love and Thunder (2022). It was later revealed as being a feature film adaptation of the 2014 documentary Next Goal Wins. Waititi, Garrett Basch and Jonathan Cavendish serve as producers, with Andy Serkis, Will Tennant and Kathryn Dean as executive producers.

Casting
In September 2019, Michael Fassbender entered final negotiations to star in the film. He would be confirmed the next month, alongside Elisabeth Moss entering negotiations to join. In November 2019, it was announced Kaimana, Oscar Kightley, David Fane, Beulah Koale, Lehi Falepapalangi, Semu Filipo, Uli Latukefu, Rachel House, Rhys Darby, Angus Sampson, Chris Alosio and Sisa Grey had joined the cast of the film, with Moss being confirmed. In December 2019, Armie Hammer joined the cast of the film, playing an executive with Football Federation American Samoa.

Filming
Principal photography began in November 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and wrapped by January 2020. In December 2021, it was announced that Will Arnett would be stepping in for Hammer following allegations of sexual assault made by multiple women against the latter. The part, initially intended as a cameo, was expanded when Arnett joined. In May 2023, Kaitlyn Dever was announced as part of the cast.

Release
The film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2023, prior to its commercial release on November 17, 2023. The film was originally set to be released on April 21, 2023, before being postponed to September 22, 2023, and then to its current date. The film's cast, however, was unable to attend the premiere due to the restrictions imposed by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.

Home media
Next Goal Wins released for digital platforms on January 16, 2024, followed by a Blu-ray and DVD release on February 27, 2024.

Box office
Next Goal Wins grossed $6.7 million in the United States and Canada, and $11.9 million in other territories, for a worldwide gross of $18.6 million.

In the United States and Canada, Next Goal Wins was released alongside The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, Trolls Band Together, and Thanksgiving, and was projected to gross around $5 million from 2,240 theaters in its opening weekend. It went on to debut to $2.5 million, finishing eighth at the box office. The film made $1.6 million in its second weekend (a drop of 35.1%), finishing in 11th.

Critical response
Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled by PostTrak gave it an 86% overall positive score, with 65% saying they would definitely recommend the film.