PHILADELPHIA — Mauricio Pochettino will call up 16-year-old Philadelphia Union attacker Cavan Sullivan for the four friendlies in the September and October international window. The U.S. men's national team head coach will name 26 men to his roster for the upcoming window, which runs from Sept. 21 to Oct. 6.

"I just like to have fun. I have this winning mentality. I just really love to win, ever since I was a kid, so that's where the competitiveness comes from, I think it's my drive, it just comes natural." Sullivan said.

He added that he is focused on continuous improvement. "I'm just working to develop my game and get better day by day and hopefully keep proving myself, proving [to] the world what I can do in the games and just having fun."

Sullivan has 12 goal contributions (6 goals, 6 assists) in MLS play since the 2026 World Cup break. This total ties him with Lionel Messi for the most goal contributions in MLS since the 2026 World Cup break. He also has the most goal contributions by a player aged 16 or younger in a single MLS season.

Pochettino explained his approach to integrating young talent into the national squad. "I think our idea [is] we are going to do a mix [of] experienced players. I think experienced players with young players that can fit together and start to work and how the young kids start to manage the pressure to play in the first team [in the] very next games … It's tough, but I think it's important now to have this pool of a lot of players because I think players can evolve from one month to another, six months, one year, and it's important to keep that connection," Pochettino said.

The U.S. men's national team will play friendly matches against Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada during the September-October international window. The team will play Peru on Sept. 26 in Orlando, Florida, and Chile on Sept. 29 in St. Louis. The U.S. men's national team will play Mexico in Glendale, Arizona, and Canada in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Other roster notes include the inclusion of Yunus Musah and Adri Mehmeti. Christian Pulisic will not be included in the U.S. men's national team roster for the September-October window.

Why It Matters

The call-up of a 16-year-old player shows a shift in roster construction under Mauricio Pochettino, who has committed to the USMNT through the 2030 World Cup. Sullivan’s inclusion alongside established players like Yunus Musah and the exclusion of Christian Pulisic indicates a strategy of blending experience with emerging talent. The extended international window from Sept. 21 to Oct. 6 provides multiple opportunities for new players to integrate into the squad.

Sullivan’s recent statistical output places him among the top performers in MLS since the 2026 World Cup break, tying Lionel Messi in goal contributions. His seven-game contribution streak sets a new benchmark for teenagers in the league. The upcoming friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada serve as a testing ground for this mixed roster approach ahead of future competitive cycles.

Timeline

Freddy Adu was 16 years and 243 days old when he made his USMNT debut on Jan. 22, 2006. Cavan Sullivan broke Freddy Adu's record for youngest athlete to appear in a league match for a major professional sports league in the U.S. and Canada in July 2024.

The U.S. men's national team will play Peru on Sept. 26 in Orlando, Florida. Cavan Sullivan will turn 17 on Sept. 28. The U.S. men's national team will play Chile on Sept. 29 in St. Louis.

What's New

It also establishes that Ryan Richter is the interim head coach of the Philadelphia Union. Additional details reveal that Mauricio Pochettino will name 26 men to his roster for the upcoming window.

Christian Pulisic will not be included in the U.S. men's national team roster for the September-October window, while Yunus Musah and Adri Mehmeti are included. Sullivan scored two goals and provided an assist in the Philadelphia Union's 5-0 win over San Diego FC. Sullivan stated, "Obviously, everyone dreams of playing for the USA. As a kid living in America, it's the biggest goal, it's the biggest honor so it would be a blessing to be able to represent. All four of the Sullivan brothers had dreams of playing for the USA. [Older brother] Quinn's already done it so that was a pretty awesome moment for the family."

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on the specifics of Cavan Sullivan's scoring actions. MLS match statistics report that Cavan Sullivan scored two goals and provided an assist in the Philadelphia Union's 5-0 win over San Diego FC. In contrast, an MLS match report specifies that Cavan Sullivan scored his first goal against San Diego FC with a backheel flick.

Another MLS match report states that Cavan Sullivan scored his second goal against San Diego FC by nutmegging the goalkeeper. Additionally, newsdata reports that Cavan Sullivan scored five goals in a five-game span through late August and early September, whereas MLS match statistics focus on his two-goal performance in the specific match against San Diego FC.