The True Story Behind 'Next Goal Wins'

While the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup wasn't exactly a banner effort for the U.S., it brought the thrills and high of soccer—er, football—to fans around the globe.

Fans of the sport, however don't need to wait until the 2024 Olympics in Paris to get their next fix. The highly-anticipated sports-comedy Next Goal Wins debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) last week and is set for a theatrical release later this fall.

Directed and co-written by Taika Waititi, who wrote, directed and starred in Oscar-winning Jojo Rabbit, the flick is based on a 2014 documentary by the same name. Following the American Samoa men's soccer team, best known for its 31-0 thumping in the FIFA loss, the movie follows as they prepare for another World Cup, hoping for at least one win this go-round. The Searchlight Pictures release has notable faces on its "roster," including Michael Fassbender, Will Arnett and Elisabeth Moss.

Read on for the 4-1-1 on Next Goal Wins.

Related: The Most Anticipated Movies from the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival Lineup

What is Next Goal Wins about?

Next Goal Wins centers around the American Samoan national team, which is considered one of the world's worst teams. That's not hyperbolic: The team was best known for its record-setting 31-0 loss to Australia during a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Dutch-American coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) took the helm ahead of the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup and was tasked with turning the team into a winner.

Is Next Goal Wins based on a true story?

Yes. Next Goal Wins is based on the real-life journey of the American Samoan soccer team. The sports comedy-drama follows coach Rongen as he tries to develop one of the weakest soccer teams on the planet—the American Samoan men's team—into a qualifier for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

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Who is in the Next Goal Wins cast?

Michael Fassbender as Thomas Rongen

Michael Fassbender was tapped to play the role of Thomas Rongen, a Dutch-American soccer coach who has to turn a team that once lost 31-0 into a World Cup qualifier. The Irish-German actor was nominated for Academy Awards for his roles in 12 Years a Slave (2013) and Steve Jobs (2015).

Oscar Kightley as Tavita

Samoan-born Oscar Kightley (Sione’s Wedding) stars as the American Samoan team manager who balances his desire to win with a fun sense of humor.

Uli Latukefu as Nicky Salapu

Uli Latukefu, who you may recognize from his role as a young Dwayne Johnson on Young Rock, portrays the talent-challenged goalie Niki Salapu.

Kaimana as Jaiyah Saelua

Kaimana assumes the role of center-back Jaiyah Saelua, who plays a critical role on defense and became the first transgender athlete to play in a World Cup game. Saelua's relationship with Rongen is a central plot-point in the movie.

Elisabeth Moss as Gail

Best known for her roles on hit TV shows The Handmaid's Tale and Mad Men, Elisabeth Moss plays Rongen's ex and one of the superiors who sends him to American Samoa.

Beulah Koale as Daru Taumua

This character is based on Daru Taramua, an actual soccer player and defender for America Samoa. Beulah Kaole's most notable role includes that of Junior Reigns on Hawaii Five-0.

Rachel House as Ruth

Rongen meets Ruth during his time in American Samoa, and she serves as a source of motivation. Maori actor Rachel House has previously worked with Waititi, appearing in Hunt For The Wilderpeople (2016), Eagle VS Shark (2007) and Thor: Ragnarok (2017).

Rhys Darby as Rhys Marlin

Next Goal Wins isn't the first time Rhys Darby has worked with Waititi. He's previously appeared in projects including Our Flag Means Death (2022) and What We Do In the Shadows (2019). In this flick, Darby takes on the role of Rhys Marlin, who sends Rongen to coach the Samoan squad.

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Will Arnett as Alex Magnussen

Will Arnett replaced Armie Hammer for the role of Alex Magnussen, a Football Federation American Samoa executive, after Hammer faced multiple accusations of sexual assault (he denied allegations of bodily harm and grooming).

Luke Hemsworth as Keith

Luke Hemsworth, who played Ashley in Westworld and Neil in Death of Me (2020), is set to appear as Keith in Next Goal Wins. He's also the brother of Liam Hemsworth and Chris Hemsworth.

Kaitlyn Dever as Nicole

Kaitlyn Dever's (Last Man Standing) involvement was announced in May 2023.

Taika Waititi as an American Samoan priest

Waititi often appears in his films, and Next Goal Wins is no exception. He plays an American Samoan priest.

Related: Director, Writer, Producer, Actor Comedian—Taika Waititi's Net Worth Post-'Thor' Is No Joke

Where was Next Goal Wins filmed?

The sports comedy-drama follows the American Samoan soccer team, but the filming occurred in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2019.

What is the Next Goal Wins release date?

Next Goal Wins premiered at TIFF on Sept. 10, 2023. It's set for its U.S. theatrical release on Nov. 17, 2023. The film represented a return to TIFF for Waititi, who won the TIFF People's Choice Award for Jojo Rabbit in 2019.

Is Next Goal Wins streaming?

No. Next Goal Wins debuted at TIFF on Sept. 10, 2023, before its Nov. 17 theatrical release in the United States. As a Searchlight Pictures title, however, it will most likely appear on Hulu sometime in 2024.

Is there a trailer for Next Goal Wins?

Yes. Searchlight Pictures dropped a trailer for Next Goal Wins this spring, conveying the film's hilarious yet heartwarming nature.

Set to ABBA's "Take a Chance on Me," the trailer shares clips and newspaper clippings from the America Samoa team's brutal 31-goal loss to the Aussies. Keeping with the "losing" theme, instead of highlighting Waititi's wins, like Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars for Jojo Rabbit, it calls attention to his Ls, like Best Picture at the Oscars. To add insult to injury, the trailer reminds everyone he lost a Teen Choice Award for Thor: Ragnarok, which he directed. Fans get a glimpse of Fassbender as Rongen being brutally honest—first to a server about his drink order (whiskey, beer and wine) and then to the team about their talent (zero).

As the trailer progresses, viewer see the squad come together and play something that actually looks like soccer.

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