Jaiyah Saelua

Early life Saelua took up football at school as an 11-year-old. She now plays for and captains her village club Ilaoa and To'omata. Following the 2023 OFC Champions League qualifying stage she announced that she was considering retirement.

International career Early career (2004–2011) Saelua made her debut for the American Samoa national team as a 15-year-old during qualifying for the 2006 World Cup, appearing as a first-half substitute in an 11–0 defeat to Fiji. She then made a further three substitute appearances in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, as well as 4 substitute appearances at the 2011 Pacific Games.

2014 World Cup qualification campaign (2011) With the arrival of coach Thomas Rongen in 2011, Saelua was given extended game time, and she made her first start for the team and achieved her first-ever international win against Tonga during qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. Saelua provided an assist and made a last-minute goalline clearance to help her team to the narrow 2–1 win, and she was declared woman of the match by her coach. She was later sent a letter by FIFA president Sepp Blatter, recognising her achievements as the first openly transgender footballer to appear in a World Cup qualifying match.

The team followed up the win against Tonga with a 1–1 draw with the Cook Islands. The film also documents the team's 2011 Pacific Games campaign. This was in part because she was undergoing her medical transition at the time. Saelua considered the possibility of playing for the American Samoa women's team after she had medically transitioned.

Saelua was recalled to the men's national squad for the 2019 Pacific Games, joining veteran goalkeeper Nicky Salapu. The team was managed by returning coach Tunoa Lui, who had previously presided over American Samoa's world-record 31–0 loss to Australia in 2001. Saelua was also commended for her role in earning the team a 1–1 draw with Tuvalu. She received a yellow card during the match. This was the first game American Samoa had not lost at the tournament in 36 years.

Managerial career Saelua coached the American Samoan boys football team, Leone Lions, during the 2018–2019 Boys ASHSAA season. She led the team to the 2018–2019 ASHSAA Boys J-V title, for which she received the "Coach of the Year Award" from the Football Federation American Samoa.

Style of play Saelua plays in full make-up whenever she takes to the football field. She is known for her crunching tackles and is described as a defender who "takes no prisoners".

Saelua has also trained as a referee, and has helped referee matches in her American Samoan homeland. Waititi had considered casting Saelua to play herself in the movie, but ultimately chose fellow Samoan faʻafafine Kaimana for the role.

Saelua is mentioned in the book Thirty-One Nil: On the Road With Football's Outsiders. She is also mentioned in the children's book Football School Star Players: 50 Inspiring Stories of True Football Heroes.

Career statistics