American Samoa goalkeeper Nicky Salapu, who experienced the heaviest loss in international football history, shares his story in a recent interview on the Sporting Witness podcast on BBC Sounds.
On April 11, 2001, Salapu and his teammates suffered a devastating defeat against Australia, with a scoreline of 31-0 in a World Cup qualifier. Despite the crushing loss, Salapu recalls how strangers still approach him to ask about the remarkable match.
During that time, American Samoa’s population was only 58,000, in comparison to Australia’s 19 million. The team had been hastily cobbled together, with Salapu being the only eligible player with an American passport out of a squad of 20 players.
The team, full of teenagers with an average age of just 18, struggled in their qualifying campaign, facing losses to Fiji and Samoa before the fateful match against Australia. Despite the overwhelming odds stacked against them, Salapu and his teammates gave their all on the field.
Salapu shares how he tried to hold back tears during the match and urged his teammates to keep pushing forward. The only attack American Samoa managed to make was in the 86th minute, forcing Australia’s goalkeeper to make a save.
Reflecting on the match, Salapu questions the sportsmanship of Australia’s approach, wondering how many goals were truly necessary to secure victory. The memory of that defeat haunted Salapu for a decade, until the team finally clinched their first Fifa-recognised victory in a match against Tonga in 2011.
Under the leadership of coach Thomas Rongen, American Samoa implemented changes and strategies that eventually led to their redemptive moment. Salapu, who came out of retirement to join the team, experienced a mix of emotions as they secured their first win after years of defeats.
A decade after the humiliating loss to Australia, Salapu found solace in the team’s victory and redemption. His story, along with Rongen’s impact on the team, is chronicled in a Taika Waititi film titled Next Goal Wins, depicting the journey of overcoming adversity and finding success in the face of challenges.
Salapu continues to play for the national side, while his son Dylan has also followed in his footsteps and plays for the Under-17s team.
