Cavan Sullivan, 16, Set for First USMNT Call-Up
Cavan Sullivan is set for his first call-up to the United States men's national team.
The 16-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder is expected to be named in head coach Mauricio Pochettino's squad later in September. The roster is due to be announced on Thursday morning.
ESPN's Jeff Carlisle was first to report Sullivan's inclusion, as noted by The Guardian. The timing points to the fall friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada. Those four games are the first for the US since the summer World Cup.
The United States went out in the round of 16 at that home World Cup, beaten by Belgium. Pochettino now restarts with a late September and early October window. Peru are first up on 26 September in Orlando.
Sullivan has forced the conversation with form. He has six goals and eight assists since Major League Soccer resumed after the World Cup. He is 16. That is elite output at any age in an attacking midfield role, the position that links defence and attack.
His rise has been fast for years. He turned professional at 14 and signed his Philadelphia Union deal in May 2024. On his debut that summer he became the youngest player to appear in any major North American professional sports league.
That deal includes a transfer to Manchester City when he turns 18. For now, Philadelphia is where he plays week in, week out. The minutes have brought goals, assists and attention.
If he plays in this window, he will become the fourth-youngest player to earn a cap for the US men. A cap is an appearance for the national team. Freddy Adu remains the youngest, debuting in a 2006 friendly against Canada. A friendly is a non-competitive international, often used to test new players.
Sullivan turns 17 on 28 September, between the Peru and Chile games, according to Times Union. There is no minimum age to play for the US. If selected, he could celebrate a birthday inside camp.
The link has been building. Sullivan was among the young names tipped for a look this autumn, alongside players such as Julian Hall. ESPN analyst Shaka Hislop had urged Pochettino to pick him for the next roster. U.S. Soccer confirmed the four opponents back in August, as listed by U.S. Soccer.
What makes this stand out is the simplicity of it. A teenager playing well for his club gets a chance with his country. For fans, this means an early look at a player they may be watching for the next decade, together, in real time.
