Next Goal Wins 2014

In 2001, the small Pacific island of American Samoa experienced a devastating defeat, losing 31-0 to Australia, which earned them the title of the worst football team in the world. A decade later, they still find themselves stuck at the bottom of FIFA’s rankings, having managed to score only twice over a span of seventeen years, while losing every competitive match they’ve ever played.

As the team prepares for a challenging qualification campaign for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, they face the daunting task of turning their fortunes around. This monumental challenge calls for either a miracle-maker or a madman. Enter Dutch coach Thomas Rongen, a maverick who is both a savior and a wild card for this struggling team.

Having come from a background where he played alongside legendary figures such as George Best and Johann Cruyff, Rongen arrives in American Samoa only to be met with an unsettling reality: in his own words, it is “by far the lowest standard of football he’s ever seen.” To his dismay, only half of his team is fit enough to complete a full match.

The squad isn’t just physically unfit; it also hosts an array of emotional scars, notably the goalkeeper who conceded those infamous 31 goals against Australia a decade prior. Additionally, the team includes a member from Samoa’s third gender, the fafafine, who embraces their identity by living full-time as a woman. As if these challenges weren’t enough, their top player is stationed a staggering 6000 miles away, having been deployed by the U.S. military.

With just one month to reshape this unlikely band of players into a cohesive and competitive team before the World Cup Qualifiers commence, Rongen has immense hurdles to overcome—not only in terms of gameplay but also in discovering his own hidden potential and understanding the rich tapestry of the team he is trying to unite. Will he succeed, or will the team’s legacy of defeat continue?