Cavan Sullivan earns first USMNT call-up; Pulisic not selected
4 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Sep 17, 2026, 3:53 PM
Last updated Sep 17, 2026
Mauricio Pochettino has named a youthful 28-man USMNT roster for upcoming friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada. Sixteen-year-old Cavan Sullivan, poised for his senior debut, is included among 13 players who could also debut. Christian Pulisic has been omitted after limited playing time with AC Milan, along with Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun, who are sidelined by injuries. The camp opens Monday in Atlanta as the team prepares for the four friendlies scheduled through early October.
- •Sullivan has six goals and 11 assists in MLS this season.
- •Pulisic's absence follows a slow start to his season with AC Milan.
- •The squad averages 22 years and 9 months, significantly younger than the World Cup roster.
- •Pochettino selected 13 players who have never competed for the senior team.
- •Friendlies will take place from September 26 to October 6 in various U.S. cities.
- 3:53 PMYahoo Sports — USMNT roster for big friendlies: Teenager Sullivan in, Pulisic out as Pochettino names youthful squad
- 3:03 PMYahoo Sports — Cavan Sullivan in, Christian Pulisic out: takeaways from the latest USMNT roster
- 3:03 PMThe Guardian Sport — Cavan Sullivan in, Christian Pulisic out: takeaways from the latest USMNT roster
- 3:00 PMYahoo Sports — Cavan Sullivan, 16, headlines Mauricio Pochettino's first USMNT roster since World Cup; no Christian Pulisic
"Mauricio Pochettino has called in a youthful group for the upcoming friendlies. Here are the big takeaways It was reasonable to expect that Mauricio Pochettino’s first United States squad of the cycle would turn the page from this summer’s World Cup. Instead, given the youthfulness of his picks, even a fast-forward reference feels like too dated a reference. Cavan Sullivan is poised to make his United States senior debut, with the 16-year-old selected as part of Pochettino’s 28-man squad for the September/October window. Sullivan is one 13 players who could debut for the national team in the coming weeks, with four friendlies to be played across the United States. Should he see the field, he would become the fourth-youngest player to represent the United States, a record still held by Freddy Adu. Continue reading...
"The 28-man squad for four friendlies averages 22 years, 9 months — more than four years younger than the World Cup roster.
"Mauricio Pochettino has called in a youthful group for the upcoming friendlies. Here are the big takeaways
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 17, 2026, 3:53 PMUSMNT roster for big friendlies: Teenager Sullivan in, Pulisic out as Pochettino names youthful squad
Pochettino has named his roster for the four friendlies in September and October.
- Yahoo SportsSep 17, 2026, 3:03 PMCavan Sullivan in, Christian Pulisic out: takeaways from the latest USMNT roster
Mauricio Pochettino has called in a youthful group for the upcoming friendlies. Here are the big takeaways
- The Guardian SportSep 17, 2026, 3:03 PMCavan Sullivan in, Christian Pulisic out: takeaways from the latest USMNT roster
Mauricio Pochettino has called in a youthful group for the upcoming friendlies. Here are the big takeaways It was reasonable to expect that Mauricio Pochettino’s first United States squad of the cycle would turn the page from this summer’s World Cup. Instead, given the youthfulness of his picks, even a fast-forward reference feels like too dated a reference. Cavan Sullivan is poised to make his United States senior debut, with the 16-year-old selected as part of Pochettino’s 28-man squad for the September/October window. Sullivan is one 13 players who could debut for the national team in the coming weeks, with four friendlies to be played across the United States. Should he see the field, he would become the fourth-youngest player to represent the United States, a record still held by Freddy Adu. Continue reading...
- Yahoo SportsSep 17, 2026, 3:00 PMCavan Sullivan, 16, headlines Mauricio Pochettino's first USMNT roster since World Cup; no Christian Pulisic
The 28-man squad for four friendlies averages 22 years, 9 months — more than four years younger than the World Cup roster.
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