Pochettino is bringing through the USA’s brightest crop of youngsters since Pulisic and co.
The hype around Cavan Sullivan has been intense for years. From the moment the American wonderkid joined Manchester City at the age of only 14, Sullivan has been built up as the USA’s greatest individual hope for the future. Now 16 years old, the future is now with Sullivan expected to make his national team debut in the current international break.
Picked by Mauricio Pochettino for the friendly matches against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada, Sullivan is part of a youthful contingent the US men’s national team head coach has turned to as part of his process to prepare his side for the 2030 World Cup. A new cycle signifies a fresh start for the USMNT.
Sullivan earned his call-up by catching the eye for the Philadelphia Union. The teenager is on a run of six goals in six games with only Lionel Messi more impactful as an individual difference-maker in Major League Soccer right now than Sullivan. The wonderkid is in wonderful form and could become the USMNT’s youngest debutant since Freddy Adu.
RBNY’s Adri Mehmeti is another teenage talent called up by Pochettino for the first time. The 17-year-old is the sort of midfield pace-setter the USA have lacked for years, decades even. Physically, Mehmeti still has some growing to do, but the potential is clearly there for him to become a key figure for the national team.
Neil Pierre’s emergence for Philadelphia is timely for the USA considering their desperate need for defensive reinforcement. Tim Ream has been a reliable performer for the national team, but the former Fulham centre back is now 38. He will be into his 40s by the time of the 2030 World Cup.
Justin Ellis has broken through as a key figure for Orlando City this season with the Red Bulls’ Julian Hall yet another teenage talent who has made a profound impact in MLS recently. The number of young players using the league as a platform has been a big storyline of the 2026 season.
No fewer than 13 uncapped players have been called up by Pochettino for the September and October international window. Among them are a contingent of youngsters who appear ready for regular game time. Sullivan could be in this group. So too could Zavier Gozo who made the move to Crystal Palace from Real Salt Lake this summer.
There is also another contingent who might not be ready for prime time for a number of years. Prospects like Brooklyn Raines, Mathis Albert and Diego Kochen must use the experience of being involved in a USMNT camp to continue their development. Pochettino is firmly focused on the future.
Noahkai Banks might have been another young player called up. Pochettino courted the Augsburg defender only for Banks, who played for the USA at youth level, to file a one-time switch to represent Germany last week. Supporters reacted with disappointment, but Pochettino made clear that he wouldn’t dwell on Banks’ rejection.
“We want players who show commitment,” said Pochettino when asked about US Soccer’s recruitment of dual-nationals which will surely continue even after the failure to land Banks. “Commitment is not 50%, it’s 200%. It’s good, he was honest. We want players who want to commit and are desperate to play for the badge. That’s the most important thing.”
While the USMNT’s 2026 World Cup campaign ended abruptly with a heavy (and controversial) defeat to Belgium in the last 16, Pochettino established a tactical framework for the tournament that will give him a headstart now that he is at the start of a new cycle. A lot of the hard work has already been done.
Now, it’s about finding players who can execute his instructions at an even higher level. Pochettino is bringing through the most exciting crop of young American talent since Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams surfaced. He could elevate the USMNT’s level by integrating new players in a position or two.
The squad for the September and October international window is unashamedly experimental. Pulisic hasn’t been called up despite the fact he is the USA’s most reliable attacking difference-maker. Folarin Balogun has been given the time to settle back into life at Monaco after his failed deadline day transfer to Everton. McKennie is similarly out of this current squad.
Pochettino will call on these established stars again, but the next three weeks are about finding new players for the USMNT to build around. The road to the 2030 World Cup (via a possible Copa America, a Gold Cup and an Olympics) starts here. Sullivan and co. are ready to step up.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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