Continuing the series where writers pick their go-to mood-lifting films is a look back to the inspiring sports documentary
I
t feels apt following a 2026 World Cup draw featuring tiny island debutants Curacao and Cape Verde to revisit Next Goal Wins, an underdog story I adopted upon first watch as if it were a team I would loyally follow for the rest of my life.
The documentary chronicles the world’s (once) worst soccer team, American Samoa, and their valiant efforts to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, but to label it merely a soccer film is to overlook a perfect study of remarkable characters, circumstances and a lesser seen island life. You don’t need to be a sports fan to be uplifted here.
We begin with the American Samoa national soccer team’s worst ever day at the office: a world record 31-0 drubbing at the hands of Australia in 2001, still the worst loss in international soccer history. Goalkeeper Nicky Salapu is the only player that remains from that fateful day, and despite his upbeat persona, the scars remain. The cloud of defeat still follows the team everywhere.
