Taika Waititi and Jaiyah Saelua Talk Next Goal Wins, Brown Faces, and Agony

Next Goal Wins tells the true and hilariously heartwarming story of the American Samoa national soccer team’s efforts to make the 2014 World Cup. They were publicly humiliated by a 31-0 drubbing to Australia in 2001, which still ranks as the worst loss in FIFA history. The US Soccer Federation hires Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender), a renowned former Dutch player and coach, to change their fortune. Rongen, a belligerent drunk with anger issues, has a difficult time acclimating to the friendly and accepting culture of the natives. He gets off to an insulting start with Jaiyah Saelua (Kaimana), a fa’afafine, third-gender player, who’s considered male and allowed to participate.