16-year-old Cavan Sullivan named to USMNT squad, Christian Pulisic left out

Sixteen-year-old Philadelphia Union phenom Cavan Sullivan headlines the 28-player roster named by U.S. men's national team manager Mauricio Pochettino for the upcoming FIFA international window, while AC Milan attacker Christian Pulisic was left off the roster.

Overall, the team named by Pochettino sees the U.S. manager stay true to his word that the group would consist of a mix of young and veteran players. There are a total of 13 uncapped players named to the roster.

"It's a completely different approach than it was in the past," Pochettino said from New York during an online news conference. "The World Cup is in four years. We need to work with different objectives and goals."

In addition to Sullivan, the uncapped players include Crystal Palace attacker Zavier Gozo, Philadelphia Union defender Neil Pierre and New York Red Bulls forward Julian Hall.

There are also an equal number of veterans, with Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams and Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards also included in the squad.

The roster has five goal scorers from the World Cup earlier this summer, including Middlesbrough midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, Villarreal defender Alex Freeman, Strasbourg attacker Gio Reyna, Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Malik Tillman and Celtic defender Auston Trusty.

The USMNT will face Peru on Sept. 26 in Orlando, Chile three days later in St. Louis, followed by matches against Mexico on Oct. 3 in Glendale, Arizona, as well as Canada on Oct. 6 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Players will begin reporting to Atlanta on Sept. 20.

ESPN was the first to report Sullivan's inclusion on the roster, and he figures to garner plenty of attention, having long been touted as a future star for the USMNT.

He signed a homegrown deal with the Philadelphia Union on May 9, 2024, at the age of 14, making him the fifth-youngest player to sign a first-team MLS contract. The deal contains a clause that allows him to be transferred to Manchester City when he turns 18 in 2027.

But it is Sullivan's recent form that has caught Pochettino's attention. Since the resumption of play following MLS' break due to the World Cup, Sullivan has scored six goals -- including goal contributions in each of his past seven league games -- and added eight assists.

In all competitions this season, Sullivan has nine goals and 15 assists, a staggering number for a 16-year-old.

"He deserved all the praise that he's getting I think because he's performing well, he's playing well, he's giving assists and scoring goals," Pochettino said. "He is special because he is 16 years old playing in this level in MLS."

If Sullivan -- who turns 17 on Sept. 28 -- makes his USMNT debut in any of the upcoming matches, he will be the second-youngest player to play for the U.S., behind only Freddy Adu. Adu first appeared for the USMNT at 16 years, 243 days when he came on as a substitute in a 0-0 draw against Canada on Jan. 22, 2006.

Pulisic's omission was somewhat expected. He has just recently returned to the Milan lineup after sustaining a bone bruise and microfracture in his lower leg during the USMNT's World Cup elimination at the hands of Belgium on July 6. He has been a substitute in both of his appearances for Milan this season.

It has been Pochettino's habit to only name players to the roster who have shown a consistent level of fitness over several weeks.

Pochettino didn't give a reason for why he didn't pick Pulisic.

"It's not a point that now the first camp of this new cycle I start to explain why it's one, why it is not another," Pochettino said.

Juventus' Weston McKennie and Real Salt Lake's Diego Luna were also ruled out due to injury. McKennie has yet to play for Juventus this season due to a muscle injury, while Luna is set to undergo arthroscopic surgery in the near future in order to address a lingering knee issue. He's expected to miss multiple months.

AS Monaco forward Folarin Balogun was also left off the roster. He has yet to feature for Monaco since a proposed transfer to Everton fell through very late in the summer transfer window.

- Bundesliga breakout star Cole Campbell committed to U.S.
- Pulisic subs on as Milan humbled by Benfica in Europa League
- Luna, Musah and the USMNT's fringe players hoping for a bigger role in 2030

Pochettino did see fit to hand a recall to a pair of players who missed out on the 2026 World Cup. AC Milan midfielder Yunus Musah is back in the fold following some impressive performances for his club. He hasn't featured for the U.S. since the 2025 Concacaf Nations League finals 18 months ago.

West Bromwich Albion defender George Campbell returns for the first time since earning his sole U.S. cap against Venezuela in January 2025.

Detailed roster by position (Club/Country; Caps/Goals):

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), Sergiño 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), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 42/13), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; 0/0)

The Associated Press contributed to this report.