the "washington post" reported that zelalem became a u.s. citizen on december 29, 2014, and that zelalem had applied for an expedited u.s. passport. after zelalem received his citizenship, sunil gulati, head of u.s. soccer, revealed that the board for u.s. soccer had started the process to allow zelalem to become eligible to play for the u.s. national team. due to a fifa rule designed to prevent players from naturalizing to and representing nations to which they lack ties, zelalem was subject to waiting a minimum of five years before he could start to represent the united states. gulati stated u.s. soccer filed for an exception, since zelalem attended middle school in the united states. he was approved to play for the united states and was added to the united states squad for the 2015 fifa u-20 world cup on may 13, 2015. he made his debut against australia in a u-20 friendly match on may 19, 2015, which the united states won 2–1.