Next Goal Wins: Release date, trailer, cast and the story behind the film
By Dan Hepburn
Back in 2014, Mike Brett and Steve Jamison directed the sports documentary, Next Goal Wins, which followed American Samoa's ambitious bid to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
Some nine years later and New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi is taking Next Goal Wins to the big screen, backed by a stellar cast that includes Hollywood royalty Michael Fassbender and Elisabeth Moss, as well as Arrested Development star Will Arnett.
To whet the appetite ahead of the film's release, here's everything you need to know about the film itself, American Samoa's story, the cast and even who Fassbender and Waititi support in real life.
The story behind Next Goal Wins
Next Goal Wins focuses on the real-life story of the American Samoa national team, who infamously suffered the worst international defeat of all time in 2001 - a crushing 31-0 defeat at the hands of Australia - and their bid to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.
Dutch-American coach Thomas Rongen, formerly the manager of D.C United and United States-Under 20s among others, is hired with the intention of delivering American Samoa's ambitious target, and the film follows the emotion and learnings of a group of players looking to do their country proud.
Set to ABBA's "Take a Chance on Me", the film will have a dash of comedy thrown in to lighten the mood while providing a captivating insight into the trials and tribulations of all involved in American Samoa's dream.
When will Next Goal Wins be released in cinemas?
The film is due to the released by Searchlight Pictures on October 20 in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with a release in the United States and Canada slated for a month later on November 17.
The 2014 documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was crowned Best Documentary at the British Independent Film Awards.
Next Goal Wins trailer
The Next Goal Wins official trailer was released on April 26, quickly drawing the attention of an international audience.
You can watch the trailer below.
Who is starring in Next Goal Wins? Cast and crew revealed
Irish actor Michael Fassbender, known for his feature film debut in The 300 and portrayal of X-Men villain Magneto, plays the lead role of American Samoan head coach, Thomas Rongen.
The Handmaid's Tale and The Invisible Man star Elisabeth Moss is also part of the cast, as is film director Waititi - he will play the role of a local priest.
Arrested Development's Will Arnett is another familiar face in the film, playing the role of Alex Magnussen.
Actor/Actress | Role |
|---|---|
Michael Fassbender | Thomas Rongen |
Oscar Kightley | Tavita |
Kaimana | Jaiyah |
David Fane | Ace |
Rachel House | Ruth |
Beulah Koale | Daru |
Taika Waititi | American Samoan Priest |
Will Arnett | Alex Magnussen |
Elisabeth Moss | Gail |
What club does Michael Fassbender support?
The lovable Irish-German actor is known to have an allegiance with English giants, Liverpool.
Fassbender was in attendance for Liverpool's famous 4-0 win over Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Champions League, later telling Absolute Radio that the performance was "the most inspiring 90 minutes" he'd ever witnessed.
An ardent Liverpool fan since the age of five, Fassbender credits 'You''ll Never Walk Alone' as the best club anthem in the world and has often been heard to conclude interviews using that exact saying.
He joins an esteemed list of celebrities who support Liverpool, including James Bond star Daniel Craig and Hollywood heartthrob Mark Wahlberg.
What club does Taika Waititi support?
Kiwi filmmaker Waititi's loyalties are less clear - indeed, it appears that he's more of a fan of a different shaped ball. Still, it's hardly surprising that Rugby Union is Waititi's preferred viewing, with New Zealand's dominance on the international stage.
In terms of his background, Waititi is an Academy Award-winning director perhaps best known for his work on Thor: Ragnarok, with his Oscar success coming in the Best Adapted Screenplay category in 2020 for Jojo Rabbit.