Historic USMNT Debut
Cavan Sullivan makes his senior USMNT debut at age sixteen against Peru.
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Cavan Sullivan, a 16-year-old Philadelphia Union standout, started for the U.S. men’s national team against Peru, making his senior debut at 16 years and 363 days and becoming the fourth-youngest player in USMNT history. His strong Union season earned him his first call-up, and he has set MLS age-related records previously held by Freddy Adu, who remains the youngest-ever USMNT player. The friendly opened a new World Cup cycle under coach Mauricio Pochettino, whose youthful squad also included experienced players as he assessed emerging talent. Under an agreement made when Sullivan signed with Philadelphia, he is expected to join Manchester City when he turns 18.
Key Points
1
Sullivan had nine goals and 15 assists across all competitions for Philadelphia this season, including a goal contribution in each of his last seven league games.
2
Before the Peru match, Pochettino said Sullivan was “mature enough on the field,” while emphasizing that he would use training data to decide which players were ready to play.
3
The U.S. named a 28-player roster for the friendly, and teams were permitted 11 substitutions—more than the usual five—making extensive lineup changes likely.
4
Peru, ranked 50th by FIFA, had failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
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