[3][6] She was prominently featured in the 2014 documentary Next Goal Wins, about the American Samoa team, and the 2023 biographical comedy-drama of the same name directed by Taika Waititi, in which she is portrayed by Kaimana.
[16] 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.
[18][19][20][21][22][23][24] 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.
[25] 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.
[3][26] 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.
[26] American Samoa's efforts to qualify for the 2014 World Cup are chronicled in the 2014 British Documentary Film Next Goal Wins, in which Saelua plays an integral part.
[33] 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.
[39] 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.
[29][7] Waititi had considered casting Saelua to play herself in the movie, but ultimately chose fellow Samoan fa'afafine Kaimana for the role.