Can History Making Phenom Cavan Sullivan, and Cast of Other Teens, Relaunch American Men’s Soccer?

If you think it’s too early to get hyped about the United States National Soccer team’s next international competition, meet Cavan Sullivan.The 17-year-old forward from Philadelphia became the youngest player to score a goal in the U.S. Men’s National Team history Saturday night as a revamped American squad earned a 3-0 victory over Mexico in an international friendly in Glendale, Arizona.Mr. Sullivan, who celebrated his latest birthday only five days earlier, scored his historic goal in the 62nd minute, intercepting a pass from Mexico goalkeeper Jose Rangel and launching a perfectly placed shot over the goalkeeper’s head for a 2-0 lead.Mr. Sullivan, who plays for the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer, sprinted to the corner of the field where his teammates swarmed him in celebration“This is what you dream of,” Mr. Sullivan said. “I’ve manifested this, not just these past couple days, but my whole life. The celebration, every bit of it. This is a special moment for me and my family. Most importantly, for the team, a great win and an awesome environment to do it in.”U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino gave Mr. Sullivan a bear hug after subbing for the teenager minutes after his score.“He’s a fighter, he’s a warrior,” Mr. Pochettino told reporters after the match. “It’s difficult to find this type of player. Tremendous quality.”Fellow teenager, Julian Hall, 18, also scored for the United States. The New York native and Mr. Sullivan are two of the 28 players called up to the national squad by Mr. Pochettino for a series of friendly matches that began late last month.Mr. Hall, who debuted for the New York Red Bulls in 2023, scored his first goal and later added an assist in a 4-1 win over Peru on Sept. 26 in Orlando. Both teenagers also saw action in the Americans 4-2 win over Chile on Sept. 29 in St. Louis.After reaching the Round of 16 before losing to Belgium at the 2026 World Cup, Mr. Pochettino is looking to shake-up the roster in his second term as the U.S. coach.He dropped team star Christian Pulisic and added 13 newcomers in a mix of young emerging stars and players with previous World Cup experience. The list ranges from the teenage phenoms to midfielder Yunus Musah, a 2022 World Cup veteran who hasn’t played for the American since March 2025.“It’s a completely different approach than it was in the past,” Mr. Pochettino said in an online news conference before the friendly matches began. “Mr. Sullivan was not a surprise selection. He made his MLS debut at age 14 with Philadelphia in July 2024, and has recorded six league goals this season. He is set to transfer to Manchester City when he turns 18, but the English club is currently embroiled in a financial scandal which could lead to sanctions.Though he was in the stands for the U.S. loss to Belgium, Mr. Sullivan figures to play a prominent role on the USNT for the next decade at least.“He deserved all the praise that he’s getting because he’s performing well,” Mr. Pochettino said. “He’s playing well; he’s giving assists; and scoring goals. He is special because he is (17) years old playing at this level in MLS.”Mr. Pulisic, 28, appears to be the odd man out. The two-time World Cup veteran failed to score last summer. He missed one match with a calf injury and left two others early, including the showdown with Belgium where he suffered a microfracture of his right tibia and fibula.Mr. Pochettino would not elaborate on why Mr. Pulisic was left off the roster. “It’s not a point that now the first camp of this new cycle I start to explain why it’s one, why it is not another,” he reasoned.The youth movement also includes17-year-old midfielders Adri Mehmeti and Mathis Albert; 18-year-old defenders Peyton Miller and Neil Pierre; 19-year-old midfielder Zavier Gozo; 19-year-old forward Justin Ellis; 20-year-old goalkeeper Diego Kochen; 20-year-old right back Frankie Westfield; 20-year-old midfielders Cole Campbell and Brooklyn Raines; and 25-year-old goalkeeper Brian Schwake.The initial set of friendlies conclude with a game against Canada Tuesday in St. Paul, Minnesota.“This for me is a great opportunity to meet these guys, to see them, to analyze, to see the things to improve in the way that they can evolve,” Mr. Pochettino said.

Can History Making Phenom Cavan Sullivan, and Cast of Other Teens, Relaunch American Men’s Soccer?

Can History Making Phenom Cavan Sullivan, and Cast of Other Teens, Relaunch American Men’s Soccer?

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