Next Goal Wins

• Comedy
• Drama

Against the backdrop of American Samoa’s historic losing streak in World Cup qualifying, _Next Goal Wins_ unfolds as a surprisingly tender comedy centered on a cynical, disgraced Dutch-American coach tasked with assembling a team from a community navigating cultural shifts and personal challenges. The film doesn’t revel in underdog tropes, but instead focuses on the hesitant connections forged between a man battling his own demons and the players he initially dismisses, particularly Jaiyah Saelua, a transgender woman redefining notions of strength and belonging within the team and the island nation. It's a refreshingly grounded story of found family and gradual emotional repair; the pursuit of victory becomes secondary to the quiet transformation of individuals finding purpose and acceptance, built on a foundation of awkward humor and genuine warmth.