Next Goal Wins

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OverlyHappyHobo

7 years ago

3 months ago

29 Mar 2019 15:00:09

In 2014, a documentary was released by British filmmakers Mike Brett and Steve Jamison, titled "Next Goal Wins". The documentary was based around the American Samoan national soccer team, which were one of the weakest in football at the time. 13 years prior, they had suffered a 31-0 loss to Australia in qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, the biggest loss in international football history, and only won their first international game on November 23rd 2011, a 2-1 win against Tonga. Under Dutch head coach Thomas Rongen, the side achieved their highest ever ranking in international football, ranked 164th in the world.

The American Samoan national team has only won 4 out of 42 games in their entire history, and are currently ranked 190th in the world. They have never even gotten close to World Cup qualification, have never made an OFC Nations Cup and just 4 Pacific Games appearances. Club teams don't do much better either, with no team having made it past the group stage of the Oceanic Champions League.

Basically, these guys aren't very good. But that's where Rawlston Masaniai comes in.

Rawlston has been asked by the American Samoan FA to improve the state of football in the country. This is his story.