Young USA start 2030 road with 4-1 win over Peru
The United States opened the 2030 World Cup cycle with a 4-1 win over Peru at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando on 26 September. The Guardian
It took four minutes. Gio Reyna curled in a free kick and Justin Ellis rose to head it home. Peru hit back in the 14th minute when Yoshimar Yotun crossed for Gianluca Lapadula to equalise.
The game turned after the hour. Zavier Gozo was fouled in the box in the 65th minute and Malik Tillman scored the penalty. Moments later Justin Hall finished from six yards to make it 3-1. Sebastian Berhalter added the fourth in the 90th minute.
The loudest story was Cavan Sullivan. The 16-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder started on his senior debut and played 60 minutes. That made him the youngest player to feature for the United States in over two decades.
It was not all smooth. Sullivan was booked in the 23rd minute after colliding with Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. He is due to turn 17 on 28 September, two days after the match.
Sullivan was one of 11 Americans to earn a first cap, an appearance for the national team. Fellow starters Justin Ellis and Peyton Miller were among them. Tyler Adams wore the armband, his first time captaining the side under head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
The match was billed as a Fan Appreciation Match and played as an international friendly, a non-competitive fixture used for trying players and shapes. U.S. Soccer It kicked off at 4:30 p.m. ET and was shown on Peacock and TNT. Yahoo Sports
What makes this stand out is the freshness of it. The United States arrived here after a 4-1 defeat by Belgium in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. Fox Sports Christian Pulisic missed this camp after fracturing two bones in his right leg in that Belgium game.
For fans, this means a first look at what comes next. The squad leaned heavily on Major League Soccer, the domestic league, with 13 call-ups from MLS clubs. The next test follows quickly, with Chile due in St. Louis on 29 September.
