Cavan Sullivan, 16, Earns First USMNT Call-Up as Pochettino Starts the 2030 Rebuild Without Pulisic

Cavan Sullivan earned it on the field.

The 16-year-old Philadelphia Union attacker is set to receive his first senior call-up to the U.S. men's national team, according to ESPN's Jeff Carlisle, whose reporting was confirmed by multiple outlets including Fox Sports, the New York Times, USA Today and the Guardian. U.S. Soccer will make it official Thursday, September 17, when head coach Mauricio Pochettino names his 26-man roster.

The squad will report to training camp September 20 in Atlanta before four friendlies: Peru on September 26 in Orlando, Chile on September 29 in St. Louis, Mexico on October 3 in Glendale, Arizona, and Canada on October 6 in St. Paul, Minnesota, according to Fox 29 Philadelphia and the New York Times.

If Sullivan sees the field in any of those games, he becomes the second-youngest player to ever suit up for the USMNT, trailing only Freddy Adu, who debuted in 2006 at 16 years and 243 days old. Sullivan turns 17 on September 28, right in the middle of the window.

The numbers, depending on who's counting

Sullivan's production since MLS returned from its World Cup break has been the driving force behind the call-up, though the exact stat line depends on which outlet and which window you're looking at. CBS Sports had him at five goals and seven assists over 10 games, tied with Lionel Messi for MLS' joint goal-contribution lead in that stretch. The Guardian put it at six goals and eight assists post-World Cup. USA Today cited 11 goal contributions (six goals, five assists) over his last eight matches. Fox 29 Philadelphia reported nine goals and 15 assists across all competitions this season, with a goal contribution in seven straight league matches since the restart. The New York Times noted MLS officially credits Sullivan with six goals and 11 assists because the league counts secondary, or "hockey," assists.

The through-line across every count: he's been one of the most productive players in MLS since the league resumed. He scored twice and added an assist in the Union's 5-0 win over San Diego FC last Sunday, per Fox 29.

Pulisic left off, and it's not close to routine

The more surprising headline out of Pochettino's roster might be who isn't on it. Christian Pulisic, the USMNT's all-time leader among active players with 90 caps and 33 goals, will not be part of the squad, according to Fox Sports. Pulisic fractured two bones in his right leg during the Americans' Round of 16 loss to Belgium at the World Cup and has been used sparingly by AC Milan since, appearing as a substitute in the club's first three Serie A games under new manager Ruben Amorim before contributing an assist off the bench against Lazio.

Fox Sports also noted the relationship between Pulisic and Pochettino has been strained since Pulisic skipped the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, a tournament the U.S. lost to Mexico, a decision Pochettino has publicly needled Pulisic about even after this year's World Cup. Pochettino had never previously left out a healthy Pulisic in his two years in charge, which makes this omission notable even accounting for the injury.

The bigger picture: a program in transition

Sullivan isn't traveling alone. Fellow teenagers Adri Mehmeti (17) and Julian Hall (18) of Red Bull New York are also expected to get first-time call-ups, according to Fox Sports and the New York Post. Sullivan's Union teammate Neil Pierre, Crystal Palace forward Zavier Gozo, Orlando City's Justin Ellis, and goalkeeper Diego Kochen, on loan from Barcelona at Danish club Lyngby, round out the wave of new faces, per the New York Times.

Pochettino has been explicit about why. "The project is 2030," he told reporters, according to the New York Post, framing this camp as the start of a four-year buildout toward the next World Cup. He's also been careful to temper the hype. "We need to be careful because when you are young... if you play well and people start to talk like you are Messi... if after you are confused and you don't manage" it, Pochettino said, according to the Times, after Sullivan drew the coach's attention earlier this month by suggesting in a podcast interview he could have helped the U.S. at this summer's World Cup.

Sullivan, for his part, isn't entertaining any other international option. He's eligible to play for Germany but has shown interest only in the U.S., according to USA Today. His path to Manchester City, where he's contracted to join once he turns 18 next September, remains unaffected by any senior friendly appearances, since friendlies don't cap-tie a player.

The open question now is simple: does Pochettino actually put Sullivan on the field against Peru, Chile, Mexico or Canada, or does the 16-year-old spend this camp watching and training before his real debut later in the cycle? U.S. Soccer's roster announcement Thursday will only answer half of that.