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Director Taika Waititi has traded Thor's hammer for a heartwarming sports drama in his latest film, Next Goal Wins. Inspired by a true story captured in the 2014 documentary of the same name, Waititi has added some dramatic elements to create a well-rounded cinematic experience. But what is the real story behind Next Goal Wins? The film is based on an incident where the national football team of American Samoa suffered a devastating loss to Australia, with a final score of 31-0. This match, which took place in 2001, was considered one of the biggest losses in professional football

Despite playing since 1994, the American Samoa team had not won a single match in their almost decade-long history. The match against Australia was a World Cup qualifying match, with the winner securing a spot in the 2004 World Cup. Unfortunately, the American Samoa team did not make it to the World Cup. Their loss not only brought public embarrassment but also set a new world record for the most goals scored in an international game, with Australia taking the honor. The players themselves were left laughing at the end, as there was little more they could do. However, the fact that the American Samoa team even got to play the match was fortunate

FIFA-implemented rules posed several challenges, including the demand for passports from each player. This requirement immediately disqualified 19 of the team's 20 players from the match. With a new team hastily assembled, which included two 15-year-olds and players who were not used to playing a full 90 minutes, the odds were stacked against them. Some players didn't even have the appropriate footwear. Despite this devastating loss, the American Samoa team refused to give up

They set their sights on qualifying for the 2014 World Cup and hired Thomas Rongen, a Dutch-born, American-based coach, to help turn things around. In the movie, Rongen is portrayed by Michael Fassbender. Rongen had previously won the MLS Coach of the Year award in 1996 and faced the challenge of transforming the "worst team in the world" in just three weeks. The team's expectations were modest—they simply wanted to avoid losing a match by more than 10 points. Rongen focused on the mental aspect of the game, knowing that the team had never won before and was expected to lose

Despite ultimately failing to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, the American Samoa team regained their confidence and dignity. They even won their first-ever game against Tonga with a 2-1 score. Next Goal Wins, the film that tells this inspiring story, will be released in UK cinemas on December 26th.