Next Goal Wins | Rotten Tomatoes

Next Goal Wins

Released Apr 25, 2014

1h 36m

Documentary

List

100%

32 Reviews

Tomatometer

89%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Dutch coach Thomas Rongen attempts the nearly impossible task of turning the American Samoa soccer team from perennial losers into winners.

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Critics Consensus

Finding beauty in sports beyond the mere satisfaction of winning, Next Goal Wins is a moving documentary filled with a lovable array of underdogs.

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Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

Both predictable and shamelessly heart-warming.

Jul 11, 2014

Full Review

Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Watching this was the first time I have ever punched the air because a football sailed into the back of a net. And very probably the last.

Rated: 4/5

May 11, 2014

Full Review

Tara Brady

Irish Times

'Tis the season for over use of sporting cliches noting the romance of the World Cup. But if you can't find it in Next Goal Wins, you're not going to find it anywhere.

Rated: 4/5

May 9, 2014

Full Review

James Croot

Stuff.co.nz

It’s all fascinating human drama, which just makes the sporting endeavour and storytelling on display that much richer.

Dec 1, 2023

Full Review

Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

The documentary captures the team’s resilience in the face of defeats to keep playing as Rongen seeks to lead the major underdogs all the way in qualifying for the World Cup.

Feb 14, 2023

Full Review

Bernard Boo

Way Too Indie

A shining example of how sports aren't simply about competition and domination, but about camaraderie, self-discovery, and love.

Rated: 8/10

Mar 28, 2019

Full Review

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Audience Member

Impossible not to find this heartwarming, inspiring and actually quite impressive. Really enjoyed the documentary.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Fairly typical, against all odds tale. Held my attention but only fleetingly, would have liked a bit more focus on the players.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

For sports fans, there's nothing more hopeless than cheering for a perennial loser. Die-hard supporters of the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, and Kansas City Royals, among other notoriously bad franchises, know the agony of defeat all too well. But they've got nothing on the people of American Samoa. The soccer team that represents this small Pacific Island nation is all kinds of awful. In a 2002 World Cup qualifying match, American Samoa lost to Australia 31-0-the worst margin of defeat in the history of the event. Prior to the events depicted in the documentary Next Goal Wins, they'd only won one international match. Ever. That was all the way back in 1983, which meant they were going on 30 years of nothing but losing when directors Mike Brett and Steve Jamison's cameras started rolling. Heading into 2014 World Cup qualifying, American Samoa soccer was still rudderless. They were a rather tightly knit crew, but the game wasn't their biggest priority in life, and understandably, they came up a little short in the confidence department. Enter Thomas Rongen-an eccentric Dutchman who was the only person crazy enough to apply for the American Samoan national team's head coaching vacancy. He has a tough time assimilating at first; an avowed atheist, Rongen doesn't quite understand American Samoan religious traditions or why they take precedent over practice. This leads to a major blowup between him and American Samoa soccer executives. The film also paints him as a stubborn ass, but he's so much deeper than such a simple characterization would allow. He shares his tragic story-of losing a daughter in a car crash-with the audience and slowly comes to understand these people and this culture. It's an arc rarely found in non-fiction filmmaking, but one that helps this film rise above its familiar athletic underdog formula. Next Goal Wins' other big "character" is Jonny "Jayieh" Saelua, a defender for the American Samoan team who is also FIFA's first transgender player. Jayieh is a sweet soul and a real charmer-maybe not the most talented player on the team, but one who absolutely earns playing time. It's nice to see the filmmakers give her story its fair shake, but it also occasionally feels awkwardly shoehorned into an otherwise simply told sports story. Social commentary and athletics absolutely belong in conversation together, but Brett and Jamison don't exactly nail the landing in their attempt to marry the two. These asides excepted, Next Goal Wins is an inspiring, smartly executed, and immensely watchable documentary. It follows well-worn conventions, but those conventions are well-worn for a reason. Underdogs don't come more "underdoggy" than American Samoan soccer, and seeing them rise up and fight for victory is intoxicating. johnlikesmovies.com

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Tim G

Pretty great, what an admirable group of footballers.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/30/16

Full Review

Audience Member

Now that is real football.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This particular stands out among the many other films which attempt to investigate past sporting conquests and failures. With great care, this particular film offers far more than that which a typical sports analyst might care to reveal. American Samoa has been a country struggling for decades to reclaim international recognition for being a competitor amongst the many nations of this planet. Samoa is a place rich with culture, centered around spirituality and brotherhood. I found myself longing to know what it feels like to be part of something as powerful as the team depicted here. From the Haku war dance to other national chants, they all represent a culture that has rich historical roots that stem back far into the depths of time. It doesn't take a genius to acknowledge that these guys would never have been able to compete on the big stage, but that wasn't the point. They fought for something far greater. International recognition, something that this film certainly depicts them achieving. It should also be noted that teammate Jaiyah Saelua, would go on to make history and become the first transgender individual to compete in a men's FIFA World Cup qualifier! Many directors have attempted to tell the story of a talentless futbol team from Samoa, however this particular one is the first to realize the truth about this amazing group of people. And for that I say, "Bravo Mike Brett and Steve Jamison."

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

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Mike Brett

Director

Steve Jamison

Director

Thomas Rongen

Self

Jaiyah Saelua

Self

Nicky Salapu

Self

Gene Ne'emia

Self

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Synopsis

Dutch coach Thomas Rongen attempts the nearly impossible task of turning the American Samoa soccer team from perennial losers into winners.

Director: Mike Brett, Steve Jamison
Producer: Myles Payne, David Staniland
Distributor: Ketchup Entertainment
Production Co: Archer's Mark
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 25, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 22, 2014
Runtime: 1h 36m

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