Josh Gloer’s refugee soccer doc faces distribution hurdles after local premiere

Josh Gloer has finished filming a documentary about a local youth soccer team, but he is still searching for a company to bring the movie to theaters and streaming platforms. The film, titled Chasing Goals, follows Global FC, a group of boys from refugee backgrounds who live in Kansas City’s Historic Northeast. Gloer, 47, completed the project after spending months off his paid work in the film industry to shoot the team during their preparation for the USA Cup.

The documentary centers on boys who grew up in African refugee camps where food was scarce and living conditions were crowded. In Kansas City, these challenges are compounded by poverty and gun violence in the area where the team practices. One player, Donat, 15, originally from Tanzania, described the need to seize opportunities during an interview for the film. He compared grabbing chances to holding onto one’s last breath while drowning. His words elicited audible gasps from the audience during the film’s world premiere at the Gem Theater in September.

Gloer’s path to the team began in 2023 when he started volunteering with Jewish Vocational Services. He was initially motivated by the plight of Afghan refugees following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. While working at the front desk of the resettlement agency, he observed children translating for parents and families struggling to manage with minimal resources. He realized his daughter needed to see these stories. A suggestion to play soccer with a local team led him to Global FC. He noted that he was not a soccer fan himself, though his daughter played as a goalkeeper.

The film follows the team as they travel to Minneapolis for the USA Cup, the nation’s largest youth soccer tournament. The narrative includes scenes of on-field competition and the social dynamics of teenage boys. Gloer, a Liberty resident and Kansas City native, spent 15 years in the Los Angeles film and television industry before returning to the Midwest. His professional connections helped secure backing from production entities including Trevor Noah’s production company, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Foolish Club Studios, and Wavelength.

Despite this support and a promotional push during local World Cup events, the film lacks a distributor. Gloer stated that he is not concerned about finding a home for the movie because of the powerful entities behind the project. For now, an extended trailer is available on the film’s website. He is currently working between assignments for the History Channel while the distribution process continues.

Gloer described the production process as a departure from his usual work, which involved true crime documentaries. He recalled a moment when his daughter, then about 9 years old, walked into his office while he was reviewing scripts. She asked why he was working on material he did not like. He admitted to her that he did not enjoy it. She suggested he do something he did like. He later described this advice as the reason for his career shift.

Shooting the film in the Historic Northeast presented safety concerns for Gloer and his crew. His wife opposed continuing the project because they could hear gun violence near the practice field. Gloer described the field as an oasis, but noted that a block away, shooting was audible. He drove the boys home through streets where people sometimes stood in the middle of the road.

The film also explores the complex feelings the boys have about their new home. Some players expressed a desire to return to their native countries. Gloer said he was shocked when a boy told him he preferred eating once a day in a refugee camp to living in Kansas City. The boy explained that he loved walking for hours with friends in the camp. Gloer dubbed his own voice in the film to reflect his surprise at this perspective.

The premiere was a personal milestone for Gloer. He screened the film for friends and family at the Current’s stadium before the public showing. His daughter told him the movie was awesome. Gloer stated that the experience changed his life and career in unexpected ways. His primary concern was whether the boys would enjoy seeing themselves on screen. He hopes the film will eventually be available for free so the players can show it to their friends.