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USMNT Set to Call Up 16-Year-Old Cavan Sullivan for September Friendlies
ReUSMNT Set to Call Up 16-Year-Old Cavan Sullivan for September Friendlies
Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan, 16, is expected to receive his first senior United States men's national team call-up for a four-match window against Chile, Peru, Mexico and Canada, with head coach Mauricio Pochettino due to name his roster Thursday.
Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan is set to receive his first call-up to the United States men's national team, a move that would make the 16-year-old one of the youngest players ever summoned to a senior US squad. A person with knowledge of the roster confirmed the plan, speaking on condition of anonymity because the roster had not been made public.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino is expected to announce the full squad Thursday morning. The United States will play four matches in the upcoming international window, facing Chile, Peru, Mexico and Canada in late September and early October — a stretch that gives the coaching staff an extended look at a deep pool of players.
Sullivan has been one of the standout young performers in Major League Soccer since the World Cup break, recording six goals and eight assists. That production at club level, unusual for a player his age, is what pushed him into the senior national team conversation rather than a youth camp invitation.
The call-up arrives alongside a notable absence. Christian Pulisic, long the face of the US program, is not part of the upcoming squad, according to reporting on the roster. Pulisic's omission opens minutes in the attacking positions and sharpens attention on who Pochettino intends to evaluate ahead of the next major tournament cycle.
Sullivan's rise has been tracked closely since he signed with Philadelphia as one of the most hyped American prospects in years. That attention has come with caution from observers who remember previous young players labeled as the future of the national team before their careers stalled. The Guardian noted that excitement around Sullivan is tempered by memories of past hypetrains, a reminder that teenage promise does not guarantee a senior career.
For now, the immediate question is how Pochettino uses him. A four-match window against opponents of varying styles offers room to test Sullivan in different roles, whether as a starter, a second-half substitute or a training-camp project. The friendlies carry no competitive stakes, which lowers the risk of throwing a 16-year-old into senior international soccer.
The window also matters for the broader squad. With Pulisic out, other attackers get a chance to stake claims, and the coaching staff can assess chemistry across a group that will not have much time together before competitive fixtures resume. Chile, Peru, Mexico and Canada represent a mix of CONMEBOL and CONCACAF opposition, giving the US a range of tactical tests in a short period.
Sullivan's inclusion would continue a trend of Pochettino looking at younger players early in his tenure. If he appears in any of the four matches, he would join a short list of American teenagers to feature for the senior team, a milestone that would draw significant attention given his club form and the expectations already attached to his name.
The roster announcement Thursday will confirm whether the plan holds and clarify how many of the four games Sullivan is expected to be available for. Until then, the reported call-up stands as the clearest signal yet that the US staff views him as ready for the senior level.
