Cavan Sullivan represents potential generational shift for USMNT as next World Cup cycle nears
When the 2030 World Cup rolls around, U.S. men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino will have had a full cycle to figure out his roster.
That cycle will begin next week when the extended September-October international window begins, and the U.S. team assembles for the first time since its run in this summer’s World Cup ended in the Round of 16. But the camp will serve as a fresh start for the program, as Pochettino will get his first look at the next generation, highlighted by 16-year-old phenom Cavan Sullivan.
The teenager will be part of the upcoming camp, earning the first senior call-up of his career, ESPN reported Wednesday afternoon, which came as a surprise to just about nobody.
The 26-man roster for this upcoming camp will be named late Thursday morning by U.S. Soccer, but Pochettino already set the tone for what this camp will be last week when he told reporters that the idea is to mix “experienced players with young players.”
With Pochettino committed to the national team through the 2030 tournament, it’s clear that he’s ready to take full advantage of the window he has to mold the program to take the next step. And Sullivan symbolizes the next crop of American stars who could help the Argentine-born coach execute his vision.
Sullivan highlights a generational shift that appears to be happening for the U.S. men’s national team program coming out of this year’s World Cup.
Following Sullivan among potential first-time USMNT call-ups this window could be Red Bulls stars Julian Hall, 18, who the team’s head of sport Julian de Guzman told The Post “should be amongst the player pool for the next generation” for the national team; and Adri Mehmeti, 17.
Sullivan’s Philadelphia teammate Neil Pierre, 18, and Crystal Palace forward Zavier Gozo, 19, are expected to earn call-ups as well, according to Yahoo Sports.
“The project is 2030,” he said. “That needs to be our aim. … The next camp is going to be an opportunity to bring in players that can be involved in that four-year process with the possibility to arrive to 2030 in the best condition.”
Interestingly, one name that will not be part of the September-October camp — which includes friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada — is American star Christian Pulisic.
Fox Sports reported that the Hershey, Pa., native will not be part of the USMNT roster after he fractured two bones in his right leg during the World Cup and has been used sparingly by AC Milan since the Serie A season began last month.
Though Pulisic had represented the next generation for the USMNT, Sullivan is now at the center of that conversation for the foreseeable future as the United States looks to build on the momentum it gained during the 2026 World Cup.
Sullivan, at the ripe old age of 16, has become a phenom for the Philadelphia Union, especially since MLS returned to action after the World Cup.
The Philadelphia native, who will join Premier League club Manchester City when he turns 18, has six goals and five assists since the World Cup break ended, and Sullivan has nine goal contributions in his past seven matches for his MLS club.
“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,” he told CBS Sports at a video game launch event in New York this week.
“Obviously, everyone dreams of playing for the USA,” he added. “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.”
