World's first transgender footballer competes globally

Jaiyah Saelua is making history playing for the world's first international football team and throwing the spotlight on diversity in sport, at the same time.

Jaiyah Saelua, the world's first transgender football player (Still from Next Goal Wins)

Jaiyah Saelua, the world's first transgender football player (Still from Next Goal Wins documentary).

Jaiyah Saelua is making history playing for the world's worst international football team and throwing the spotlight on diversity in sport, at the same time.

She plays for the American Samoa and she's the world's first transgender player to take part in a competitive international match. 

"The [Polynesian] culture allows transgender people... to be comfortable in their own skin so they can reach their highest potential in life," said Saelua, who is a member of Polynesia's fa'afafine or "third gender". 

Saelua stars in the British documentary Next Goal Wins, which follows the American Samoa national football team. 

Click the video above to watch the full report.


Share

1 min read

Published

Updated


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world