Cavan Sullivan, 16, Earns First USMNT Call-Up After MLS Breakout

Cavan Sullivan has quickly become one of the most talked-about young players in Major League Soccer. Now, the 16-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder is set to take another major step.

Sullivan will join the United States men’s national team for the first time when the USMNT gathers in Atlanta this weekend.

The upcoming camp marks the start of a new stretch for the national team. The USMNT will play four matches against Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada between September 26 and October 6.

Sullivan has made a strong impact with the Philadelphia Union this season. The Philadelphia native has recorded six goals and 11 assists in 23 matches, including 16 starts.

His recent form has been even more notable. Sullivan has recorded a goal contribution in seven straight games, helping the Union put together a 10-game unbeaten run since the end of the World Cup break.

Now, he will train alongside established USMNT players and get his first experience with the senior national team.

13 Players Could Make Their Debuts

Instagram | @cavan.sull | Sixteen-year-old Philadelphia Union star Cavan Sullivan earned his first-ever USMNT call-up for camp in Atlanta.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino has selected 28 players for the four-match stretch. Thirteen of them are looking to make their first USMNT appearance.

Sullivan is not the only teenager receiving an opportunity. His Philadelphia Union teammate Neil Pierre, Crystal Palace midfielder Zavier Gozo, and New York Red Bulls forward Julian Hall are also joining the camp for the first time. All three are 19 or younger.

The younger group will also work with players who took part in the World Cup, including Sebastian Berhalter, Alex Freeman, Gio Reyna, Auston Trusty, and Malik Tillman.

Pochettino described the group as a mix of experienced players and young talent.

“This is the beginning of a fresh start for everyone, and we are excited in these first matches to bring a group of experienced players along with some young talents who have great potential,” Pochettino said.

Four Matches on the Schedule

The USMNT will face:

1. Peru on September 26 in Orlando
2. Chile on September 29 in St. Louis
3. Mexico on October 3 in Glendale, Arizona
4. Canada on October 6 in St. Paul, Minnesota

Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun will not be part of the squad for this group of matches.

Pochettino also made clear that the roster does not establish a fixed group for the 2030 World Cup cycle. “The 28 players that are going to be involved in these four games, for different circumstances, are the best players we want see and we want to work with. That’s it,” he said at a press conference in New York on Thursday.

Looking Ahead to 2030

Instagram | @cavan.sull | Sullivan’s inclusion in USMNT camp fuels his rapid growth and gives Pochettino another young player to evaluate.

The United States is beginning another World Cup cycle after its previous tournament ended with a 4-1 loss to Belgium. The team had opened the tournament with a strong win over Paraguay before dealing with controversy surrounding Balogun’s red card in a knockout-round victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was later reinstated for the round-of-16 match against Belgium.

Pochettino said the approach now needs to change because the next World Cup is four years away.

“The World Cup is in four years. We need to work with different objectives and goals,” Pochettino said.

Sullivan’s first USMNT camp gives him a chance to train at the senior international level while continuing his rapid development with Philadelphia. His inclusion also adds another young name to a group that Pochettino is using to assess players at the start of a new cycle.

The four upcoming matches will provide Sullivan and the other first-time call-ups with their first opportunity to experience the demands of the senior national team.