---
title: "Next Goal Wins"
year: 2023
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/next-goal-wins"
fi1m_id: "next-goal-wins"
imdb_id: "tt10767052"
tmdb_id: 621587
wikidata_id: "Q73537958"
fi1m_score: 50
critics_score: 46
critics_reviews: 19
published: "2026-09-10"
updated: "2026-10-06T10:36:41.828453+00:00"
region: "US"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Next Goal Wins (2023)

Directed by Taika Waititi · 1h 44m · MPA PG-13 · Comedy, Drama, Sport

## Identity

Next Goal Wins

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/next-goal-wins
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** next-goal-wins
- **IMDb ID:** tt10767052
- **TMDB ID:** 621587
- **Wikidata ID:** Q73537958
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10767052/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/621587, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q73537958

**Fi1m score: 50** · Critics 46 from 19 reviews

*In a sentence:* Fassbender shouts at the worst football team in the world and the island waits, patiently, for him to calm down

> Taika Waititi has the warmest possible material, a team that lost 31–0 and kept turning up, and hands most of it to Michael Fassbender’s coach. Funny in patches, kind throughout, and about the wrong man.

## Synopsis

The American Samoa national football team lost 31–0 to Australia in 2001, and a decade on it has still never won a match. Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender), a coach with a temper and few friends left in the game, is sent to the island by federation officials Alex Magnussen (Will Arnett) and Gail (Elisabeth Moss) with a modest brief: get the team to score a goal. He finds a squad that trains after work and prays before it, a federation president, Tavita (Oscar Kightley), who runs most of the island, and Jaiyah (Kaimana), a fa’afafine centre-back who is the best player he has. Taika Waititi directs and co-writes with Iain Morris.

## Review

The American Samoa national football team lost 31–0 to Australia in 2001, which is still the heaviest defeat in international football, and *Next Goal Wins* is about the man sent to stop it happening again. Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) is a coach who has run out of goodwill, and Alex Magnussen (Will Arnett) and Gail (Elisabeth Moss) put him on a plane to the Pacific with instructions to get the team to score once. It is a kind film, and a lazy one, and we spent 104 minutes wishing it had been made about the other people in it.

Those other people are the best thing here. Oscar Kightley plays Tavita, who runs the football federation and, as far as we can tell, most of the island, and he does it with a straight face and perfect timing. David Fane’s Ace, the assistant coach who was there before Rongen and will be there after, gets the best line in the film and knows not to lean on it. Uli Latukefu plays Nicky Salapu, the goalkeeper who let in all thirty-one, as a man who has been carrying that number around for ten years, and the film is briefly serious when it lets him. Rachel House, as Ruth, has heard it all before and says so.

Kaimana, as Jaiyah, is the reason to see it. Jaiyah is fa’afafine, and the script by Iain Morris and Waititi handles this with more care than it handles anything else: nobody on the island thinks it needs explaining, and only Rongen makes it a problem. We were moved, properly and against our expectations, by a quiet scene between Jaiyah and Rongen in the second half, in which Kaimana refuses to be hurt on cue and the film stops making jokes for two minutes. It is the one stretch where the comedy and the true story are in the same room.

The rest of the time the film is watching Fassbender, and Fassbender is not the man for this. He plays Rongen as a shouter and a drinker who kicks water bottles and swears at teenagers, and he works hard at it, but he has no lightness, and a comedy drunk with no lightness is just a drunk. The script keeps cutting back to his marriage and his grievances as if the audience had asked, and the team disappears for stretches at a time. Waititi also gives himself a part as a priest who introduces the film and returns to narrate it, telling us things the picture could have shown. We laughed at his first appearance. By his third we had stopped.

The islanders are written as sweet, slow and endlessly forgiving, which is a pleasant way of saying most of them have been given one trait and asked to hold it for an hour and three quarters. Lachlan Milne shoots the island in bright, flat daylight and it looks like somewhere you would want to be, but the football itself is filmed close and cut fast, so we almost never see a passage of play from start to finish. Four editors are credited, Nicholas Monsour, Yana Gorskaya, Nat Sanders and Tom Eagles, and the film has the rhythm of something cut by four people who did not compare notes. Michael Giacchino’s score swells where an underdog score swells. Ra Vincent’s production design gives the federation a cramped office and a changing room with a leaking roof, and those rooms tell us more about the team than the script does.

Waititi’s *Boy*, from 2010, and *Hunt for the Wilderpeople*, from 2016, were about people on the far edge of somewhere, and they paid attention to them. This film has their warmth without their patience. Since *Thor: Love and Thunder* the jokes have been coming faster and landing softer, and here they land on people who deserved to be listened to.

The reviews split roughly two to one against, and we are nearer the against than the for, though not by much. It is a kind film to have on after lunch, with a good performance in the middle and a coach in the way. The 2014 documentary of the same name has the team in it for the whole ninety minutes.

*Fi1m score 50, published 10 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics find Next Goal Wins a formulaic underdog comedy, and the majority think it a poor one. The spread is wide. The warmest notices come from the festival screenings, where Deadline calls it a heartfelt crowd-pleaser and The Wrap ranks it among Waititi’s best work, while the reviews written around release turn sharply colder. The praise clusters almost entirely on Kaimana’s performance as Jaiyah Saelua, which several reviews name as the film’s one steady strength, and on its affection for Samoan life whenever Waititi stands back.

The reservations cluster on Waititi himself: his jokes crowd out the players, the islanders become props, and Michael Fassbender is widely thought miscast or simply uncomfortable. A few go further and call the treatment of the team borderline offensive, and The Ringer finds the Jaiyah subplot transphobic rather than sensitive, the one point where critics flatly contradict one another. Few call it dull to sit through; the complaint is that it is lazy.

## Straight answers

**Is Next Goal Wins worth watching?**

*Next Goal Wins* is worth a slow afternoon if you want something kind and undemanding, and we scored it 50. Kaimana's Jaiyah and the island cast are the reason to watch, but the film keeps cutting back to Michael Fassbender's shouting coach, and the football itself is barely on screen for long enough to follow.

**How long is Next Goal Wins, and what is it rated?**

*Next Goal Wins* runs 1h 44m and is rated PG-13 by the MPA in the US. It is a comedy and drama film.

**Where can I watch Next Goal Wins in the US?**

*Next Goal Wins* is streaming on Hulu and Disney+ in the US, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from $3.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is Next Goal Wins, and is it suitable for children?**

*Next Goal Wins* is a 12A comedy with no violence to speak of and nothing frightening in it. The coach swears at teenagers, kicks water bottles and drinks too much, and there are a few adult grievances about his marriage, but nothing that should trouble children over ten watching with their parents.

**What should I watch after Next Goal Wins?**

After *Next Goal Wins*, try [*Cool Runnings*](https://film.one/film/cool-runnings) (1993, Fi1m 73): The template for the hopeless-team comedy, and it knows exactly which man it is about. Then [*Bend It Like Beckham*](https://film.one/film/bend-it-like-beckham) (2002, Fi1m 76): A football comedy in which the community, not the coach, gets the story.

### Reviews we read (26)

- **The AV Club**, Justin Lowe (B-): A formulaic but entertaining underdog soccer comedy in which Waititi returns to his roots, celebrating Pacific island culture with gentle humor rooted in his own heritage that ultimately earns its uplifting perspective. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/next-goal-wins-movie-review-taika-waititi-1851026403)
- **Empire**, John Nugent (65/100, inferred): The critic views it as a warm, heart-in-the-right-place underdog portrait of a poor sports team, with some genuine goosebumps moments around team culture, but notes Waititi's shtick runs thin with misguided elements. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/next-goal-wins-2023/)
- **Radio Times**, Terry Staunton (3/5): The true story of the American Samoa national football team is dramatised with a light touch in this charming if unexceptional comedy. It lacks the heart of the source material and focusses too much on Fassbender as a fish-out-of-water. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-vmrhld/next-goal-wins/)
- **Screen Daily** (60/100, inferred): Taika Waititi’s affable but uninspired underdog sporting drama mines every last cliché of the genre. It is elevated by its focus on Polynesian culture and the sensitive handling of the subplot involving transgender player Jaiyah Saelua. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/next-goal-wins-toronto-review/5185788.article)
- **The Independent**, Mark Kennedy (2/4): The critic finds the film a sloppy, quirky frothy comedy that apes underdog sports movies without much depth, ultimately calling it 'meh'. They single out the genuine and touching handling of the nonbinary player Jaiyah for praise. [Read](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/taika-waititi-ap-michael-fassbender-american-samoa-jason-sudeikis-b2447826.html)
- **Little White Lies**, Mark Asch (2/2/2): Taika Waititi makes a film that’s chillingly eager to please. The adaptation of the 2014 documentary strives for nothing more than maintaining the status quo, depicting Samoans as adorable but goofy mascots. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/next-goal-wins)
- **Financial Times** (30/100, inferred): Waititi’s sports farce about underdog redemption is an irredeemable runt that presents ineptitude as an exalted state while its own mediocrity remains earthbound, with Fassbender looking uncomfortable throughout. [Read](https://www.ft.com/content/5473d388-c2e7-4079-818f-6855a73d3a3f)
- **Slant Magazine**, Justin Clark (30/100, inferred): Waititi's frivolous humor clashes with the heartwarming emotions and real story, turning characters into props for his jokes and adding irritants rather than letting the material breathe, with only one sequence succeeding. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/next-goal-wins-review-taika-waititi-michael-fassbender/)
- **Vulture** (30/100, inferred): The sloppily made and lazy film feels like an inadvertent parody of the underdog sports genre, with Waititi not trying hard enough and mangling the moment of triumph while offering few laughs. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/next-goal-wins-is-taika-waititi-even-trying.html)
- **The i Paper** (20/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a bland and predictable underdog comedy that fails to charm and leans on borderline offensive stereotypes. They single out the lack of nuance in characterisation and trajectory for complaint. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/next-goal-wins-review-taika-waititi-comedy-2818262)
- **IndieWire**, Esther Zuckerman: The occasionally funny but frequently messy film suffers because Waititi's dominant voice drowns out the other characters, preventing the inspirational sports tale from landing effectively. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/next-goal-wins-review-taika-waititi-1234904390/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Robert Abele: The critic finds the film stale and choppy with insufficient laughs or earned sincerity. He singles out the white-savior narrative and excessive cultural cuteness as major flaws. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-11-17/next-goal-wins-review-michael-fassbender-taika-waititi)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw: Waititi’s amiable but rough comedy about the American Samoa team and its troubled coach is broad, affectionate and often funny in a goofy way, with Fassbender working hard to deliver a comedy performance that mostly succeeds. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/20/next-goal-wins-review-michael-fassbender-funnies-it-up-in-taika-waititis-football-yarn)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Lovia Gyarkye: The film errs on the side of jokiness, sacrificing sincerity for self-conscious humor that mocks sports drama tropes while relying on them without earning emotional payoffs. It works best when Waititi steps back and lets characters speak for themselves. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/next-goal-wins-review-taika-waititi-michael-fassbender-1235586834/)
- **The New York Times**, Jeannette Catsoulis: The critic calls the film a sloppy underdog comedy that is indolent, offensive, and comedically barren. She singles out the miscasting of Michael Fassbender and the screenplay's preference for lazy jokes about the islanders. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/16/movies/next-goal-wins-review.html)
- **Variety**, Peter Debruge: The critic describes it as a stock 'Ted Lasso' riff that is predictable but enjoyable. He singles out the respectful poking fun at indigenous island culture and Kaimana's standout performance as the fa'afafine athlete. [Read](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/next-goal-wins-review-taika-waititi-1235719414/)
- **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (85/100, inferred): Waititi delivers a heartfelt crowd-pleaser that follows the familiar underdog sports formula but infuses it with his quirky humor and genuine emotion. The review singles out the lovable ensemble of Polynesian characters and the community for making the story feel fresh and winning. [Read](https://deadline.com/2023/09/next-goal-wins-review-taika-waititi-michael-fassbendre-american-somoan-soccer-teams-toronto-film-festival-1235542654/)
- **The Wrap** (80/100, inferred): Next Goal Wins is Waititi’s best and most crowd-pleasing film to date, a charming underdog comedy about the American Samoa soccer team. The review praises the sensitive, non-offensive handling of Samoan culture and the heartfelt tone enabled by the director’s Maori ancestry. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/next-goal-wins-review-taika-waititi/)
- **Collider**, Ross Bonaime (B-): The film is an extremely okay sports comedy that follows a familiar formula without the genre-defying creativity of Waititi's best work. Waititi's humor shines through at times, but the story lacks heart and the bigger-name cast feels underutilized; the team performances, especially Kaimana as Jaiyah, stand out as the real strength. [Read](https://collider.com/next-goal-wins-taika-waititi-review/)
- **Eye for Film**, Andrew Robertson (55/100, inferred): The critic calls the film pleasant enough with the usual sports movie elements like montages but notes it does not add much and feels by-the-numbers rather than self-indulgent. It earns a point like a consolation in a scoreless draw but could have been better. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/next-goal-wins-2023-film-review-by-andrew-robertson)
- **Polygon**, Rafael Motamayor (40/100, inferred): The film includes every beat of a standard underdog sports story with some charming Waititi-style humor and quirky characters, but it fails to convey why anyone cares about soccer or the team's specific story, resulting in a broad, bland, by-the-numbers experience that loses the heart of the real events. [Read](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23870973/next-goal-wins-taika-waititi-soccer-football-movie-review/)
- **Digital Spy**, Mireia Mullor (30/100, inferred): The critic finds Taika Waititi's underdog sports comedy uninspired and a failure across the genre's key elements, with lazy writing and unexciting jokes crushing the potential of the true story. The Samoan characters, especially the football team members, receive little development or layered treatment beyond serving the white protagonist's arc, though Kaimana's performance as Jaiyah stands out. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a46173546/next-goal-wins-review/)
- **The Playlist**, Charles Bramesco (30/100, inferred): The critic faults the film for leaving characters underdeveloped and singling out one subplot for criticism while praising the transfixing performance of Kaimana as Jaiyah. Overall it receives a red card as a misstep for the director. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/next-goal-wins-review-taika-waititi-gets-one-big-red-card-for-his-underdog-soccer-comedy-tiff-20230911/)
- **/Film** (2/10): The critic deems the film awful, derivative, lifeless and misguided, criticizing the pointless narration and failure to focus on the players until the very end. It only briefly becomes effective in the final moments. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1395728/next-goal-wins-review-tiff-2023/)
- **The Ringer**, Miles Surrey (20/100, inferred): The film is another bizarre misfire for Waititi, undermined by miscasting of Fassbender and a controversial transphobic subplot that clashes with its feel-good underdog story. It exemplifies audience fatigue with the director's recent output following underwhelming prior projects. [Read](https://www.theringer.com/2023/11/17/movies/taika-waititi-fatigue-next-goal-wins-review-jojo-rabbit-thor)
- **Film Stories**, Simon Brew: The critic finds the film a straightforward, conventional sports underdog story that delivers exactly what one expects without deeper engagement or surprises. It is pleasantly entertaining in the moment but ultimately forgettable and by-the-numbers. [Read](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/next-goal-wins-review-a-normal-conventional-sports-underdog-story/)

## Details

- **Director:** Taika Waititi
- **Director:** Taika Waititi
- **Screenplay:** Iain Morris, Taika Waititi
- **Cinematography:** Lachlan Milne
- **Editor:** Yana Gorskaya, Nicholas Monsour, Nat Sanders, Tom Eagles
- **Music:** Michael Giacchino
- **Production design:** Ra Vincent
- **Costume design:** Miyako Bellizzi
- **Producer:** Garrett Basch, Jonathan Cavendish, Taika Waititi
- **Cast:** Michael Fassbender as Thomas Rongen; Oscar Kightley as Tavita; Kaimana as Jaiyah; David Fane as Ace; Rachel House as Ruth; Beulah Koale as Daru; Taika Waititi as American Samoan Priest; Will Arnett as Alex Magnussen
- **Runtime:** 1h 44m
- **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13
- **Release (the US):** 17 November 2023
- **Genres:** Comedy, Drama, Sport
- **Budget:** $14 million
- **Box office:** $18 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRH5u5lpArQ

## Where to watch in the US

- Hulu: streaming, uhd
- Disney+: add-on, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $14.99, hd

*Checked 2026-09-10.*

Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Next Goal Wins* (2014): The documentary this was drawn from, with the players front and centre and no narrator.
- *Boy* (2010): Waititi when he was still paying attention to the people he was joking about.
- *Cool Runnings* (1993), Fi1m 73: The template for the hopeless-team comedy, and it knows exactly which man it is about. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/cool-runnings.md)
- *The Damned United* (2009): A football coach with a temper, written so that the temper is the point.
- *Bend It Like Beckham* (2002), Fi1m 76: A football comedy in which the community, not the coach, gets the story. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/bend-it-like-beckham.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/next-goal-wins