FIFA Approves Change Of Association Request For Timmy Tillman

CHICAGO (May 23, 2023) – The U.S. Soccer Federation has confirmed that 24-year-old LAFC midfielder Timmy Tillman has been approved by FIFA for a one-time “change of association” and is now eligible to represent the United States in international competition. Tillman is a dual citizen of Germany and the United States.

Because he previously represented Germany in official competition at the youth level, he was required to submit an application for a one-time switch. With his request granted, he can now only represent the United States at the international level.

“To represent the United States is obviously making me proud. I’m really honored to do so and I’m looking forward to the future with the United States,” Tilllman said. “Telling my family about it was really exciting. As a kid, my brother and I dreamt of playing for a national team together and now we’re one step closer.”

The older brother of current USMNT midfielder Malik, Tillman was born in Nürnberg, Germany and is the son of a German mother and U.S. serviceman. Much like his brother, Timmy came up through the Greuther Fürth youth system before moving to the youth setup at the legendary German club Bayern Munich where he eventually played in the club’s second team. Tillman earned his initial taste of first-team football while on loan to FC Nürnberg in 2018-19, before transferring back to Greuther Fürth where he made 80 league appearances from 2020-23.

Tillman moved stateside at the start of this year where he’s had a strong start for defending MLS Cup champions LAFC, registering two goals in 10 appearances for the current Western Conference leaders.

The USMNT has two tournaments this summer in which Tillman could make his debut. The USA will continue its defense of the Concacaf Nations League title when they face regional rival Mexico in the CNL Semifinal on June 15 in Las Vegas, with the Final and Third Place game scheduled for three days later. Also the defending champions of the Concacaf Gold Cup, the U.S. is part of the 16-team tournament that will be played from June 24-July 16 across the United States.

Once Timmy makes his international debut, the Tillmans will become the ninth set of brothers to appear for the U.S. Men’s National Team. The current “USMNT Brothers Club” consists of Brenden and Paxten Aaronson (who joined upon Paxten’s debut this past January), John and Pedro DeBrito, Otto and Rolf Decker, Angelo and Paul DiBernardo, Charlie and Henry McCully, George and Louie Nanchoff, Steve and Ken Snow, and Archie and Tom Stark.