It seemed likely that Mauricio Pochettino would begin a new era with his first United States roster following this summer’s World Cup. However, the remarkably young group he selected suggests a leap much further into the future.
Cavan Sullivan could make his senior international debut after the 16-year-old was included in Pochettino’s 28-player squad for the September and October window. The Philadelphia Union standout is among 13 uncapped players who may feature in four upcoming friendlies across the country. If selected to play, Sullivan would become the fourth-youngest footballer to represent the US, with Freddy Adu still holding the record.
A number of players from the World Cup roster have been left out as Pochettino shifts his attention toward younger talent. Christian Pulisic is absent following a quiet start to the season with Milan, where Ruben Amorim has mainly used him from the bench. Weston McKennie was not selected after muscle fatigue kept him out for much of Juventus’s early campaign. Folarin Balogun is also missing, most likely because of limited playing time following his unsuccessful move to Everton.
Nine members of the squad have already made at least 30 senior international appearances: defenders Chris Richards, Miles Robinson, Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest; midfielders Tyler Adams, Yunus Musah, Malik Tillman and Gio Reyna; and forward Ricardo Pepi. Eight of them were included in Pochettino’s 2026 World Cup group, while Musah returns for the first time since before the 2025 Gold Cup.
Matt Freese, Chris Brady, Alex Freeman, Auston Trusty and Sebastian Berhalter are among the other World Cup players returning to the squad.
A First Opportunity for Cavan
Sullivan has delivered outstanding performances for Philadelphia and secured a place in interim coach Ryan Richter’s starting lineup after the league’s World Cup pause. The academy graduate has recorded six goals and five assists across 1,368 league minutes this year, further increasing excitement about his potential. Sullivan will turn 17 on 28 September, two days after the United States face Peru and one day before their second friendly against Chile. Philadelphia defenders Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield will join him at senior camp for the first time.
Emerging Talent
Pochettino has also selected several other highly rated prospects. Zavier Gozo may receive his first senior appearance after moving from Real Salt Lake to Crystal Palace this summer. Peyton Miller, an 18-year-old viewed as a potential long-term left-back despite currently playing on the right wing for New England, has also earned a place. Two uncapped goalkeepers join Freese and Brady: Barcelona-developed Diego Kochen, 20, who has started regularly while on loan at Denmark’s Lyngby, and Nashville SC goalkeeper Brian Schwake, 25.
Two academy graduates from Red Bull New York have also been called up. Polish-American forward Julian Hall leads all teenage scorers in the league with nine goals, while his intelligent movement away from the ball could make him an immediate attacking threat. Adri Mehmeti, another regular under Michael Bradley, is a composed 17-year-old holding midfielder who already looks comfortable directing extended spells of possession and moving play forward.
Unexpected Call-Ups
Some of the other newcomers are less predictable, although the scale of Pochettino’s changes from the summer’s 26-player roster was difficult to anticipate. Justin Ellis is a 19-year-old attacker who has impressed while playing alongside new Orlando teammate Antoine Griezmann. Borussia Dortmund prospect Mathis Albert is often mentioned with Sullivan as one of the leading talents of this American generation, despite not yet securing a regular role with the German club’s reserve side.
New England midfielder Brooklyn Raines could become the third United States international born in Liberia. Doc Lawson was the first, making three appearances in 1979, while Darlington Nagbe later represented the country 25 times.
Planning for Los Angeles 2028
The influx of young players also reflects preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Steve Cherundolo, who made 87 appearances for the United States before guiding Los Angeles FC to a league championship as manager, will coach the under-23 side at the tournament. Olympic regulations permit three players above the standard age limit, and a strong pool of dependable young talent would allow the coach to use those selections to raise the team’s overall quality rather than cover weak positions. Marko Mitrovic faced the latter situation at Paris 2024, when two of his three older-player slots had to be used on central defenders.
Goalkeepers: Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Diego Kochen (Lyngby Boldklub), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC)
Defenders: George Campbell (West Bromwich Albion FC), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Peyton Miller (New England Revolution), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia Union), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Auston Trusty (Celtic), Frankie Westfield (Philadelphia Union)
Midfielders: Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund), Sebastian Berhalter (Middlesbrough), Zavier Gozo (Crystal Palace), Adri Mehmeti (Red Bull New York), Yunus Musah (Milan), Brooklyn Raines (New England Revolution), Gio Reyna (Strasbourg), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)
Forwards: Cole Campbell (Elversberg); Justin Ellis (Orlando City), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York), Ricardo Pepi (PSV), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union)
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