Mauricio Pochettino has named his USMNT roster for September and October with Christian Pulisic left out and teenage sensation Cavan Sullivan in amid plenty of intriguing decisions.
13 players who were in the USA’s 2026 World Cup squad are in this 28-man roster, while 12 uncapped players have been named.
Sullivan, just 16 years old, is the standout selection.
Cavan Sullivan inclusion a big moment for USMNT
“He deserves it, he deserves all the praise he’s getting,” Pochettino said of Sullivan at the squad announcement. “He is playing well, giving assists and scoring goals. He is 16. The important thing is to be with him and provide a solid pattern and support. Still he needs to show, to improve, to evolve and be more mature and he’s only 16. He’s a kid. But I think the most important thing is that we have the opportunity because he deserves to show us in the national team the possibilities to share ideas, listen to him, to understand how he is. He is special because he is 16 years old and playing in MLS, playing at a very high level.”
Sullivan has been in superb form for the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer and is showing glimpses of magic each time he steps on the pitch, much to the delight of USMNT fans. Sullivan has already agreed a deal to sign for Manchester City when he turns 18 and the hype around him is pretty incredible as the attacking midfielder is expected to be the next big thing in American soccer.
Pochettino doesn’t comment on Pulisic omission
On the flip side, Pulisic has only just returned from the injury he suffered in the USA’s last 16 defeat to Belgium in July at the World Cup and is slowly getting back to full fitness with AC Milan.
When asked about Pulisic’s absence from this roster, Pochettino said he didn’t want to speak about every player who wasn’t selected.
“The 28 players that are going to be involved in these four games, for different circumstances, are the best players we want see and we want to work with. That’s it,” Pochettino said.
Youngsters galore getting their chance
Pochettino has picked this window of games to take a closer look at plenty of talented youngsters making their names in MLS.
Sixteen-year-old Sullivan is the standout, but Julian Hall is only 18 and has been superb for the New York Red Bulls, while 20-year-old Cole Campbell from Bundesliga side SV Elversberg and Orlando City teenager Justin Ellis, 19, make up Pochettino’s forward options alongside Damion Downs, who was called into the squad after an injury to PSV Eindhoven’s Ricardo Pepi.
There are plenty of familiar faces in defense and midfield (Yunus Musah is back in) but MLS teenagers Peyton Miller, Neil Pierre, Frankie Westfield and Adri Mehmeti get the call-up with the Philadelphia Union boasting an impressive three players 20 years old or younger in this squad.
Here is the full USMNT roster for the friendly games against Peru and Chile in September and Mexico and Canada in October.
USMNT roster in full
GOALKEEPERS (4): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire; 1/0), Matt Freese (New York City FC; 19/0), Diego Kochen (Lyngby Boldklub/DEN; 0/0), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (10): George Campbell (West Bromwich Albion FC/ENG; 1/0), Sergino Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 44/3), Alex Freeman (Villarreal/ESP; 22/3), Peyton Miller (New England Revolution; 0/0), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 40/3), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 58/5), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 41/3), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO; 10/1), Frankie Westfield (Philadelphia Union; 0/0)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth/ENG; 58/2), Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 0/0), Sebastian Berhalter (Middlesbrough/ENG; 18/2), Zavier Gozo (Crystal Palace/ENG; 0/0), Adri Mehmeti (Red Bull New York; 0/0), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 47/1), Brooklyn Raines (New England Revolution; 0/0), Gio Reyna (RC Strasbourg Alsace/FRA; 43/10), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen/GER; 35/5)
FORWARDS (5): Cole Campbell (SV Elversberg/GER; 0/0); Justin Ellis (Orlando City SC; 0/0), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York; 0/0), Damion Downs (St. Louis City FC; 6/0); Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; 0/0)
