A 16-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder is set to receive his first senior United States men's national team call-up, according to multiple reports, a move that would make him the youngest USMNT call-up since Freddy Adu.
Cavan Sullivan, who has been with the Union's first team since 2024, is expected to be included in the upcoming U.S. squad. ESPN, FOX Sports, and The New York Times each reported the call-up, citing sources. The reports link the timing to Christian Pulisic's absence from the same squad.
Sullivan has been one of the most discussed American prospects of his generation. He signed a homegrown contract with the Union at 14 and has since appeared in MLS matches, becoming one of the youngest players to feature in the league. His development path has been carefully managed by the club, with load and minutes monitored closely.
The comparison point is unavoidable. Freddy Adu was 16 when he earned his first USMNT call-up in 2006, and the weight of that moment shaped the next decade of his career in ways nobody could control. The Guardian noted this week that watching Sullivan comes with excitement tempered by memories of past American hype trains.
The Union's recent form adds another layer. San Diego FC beat Philadelphia 5-0 in their most recent meeting, a result that raised fresh questions about the Union's season and about how much responsibility should fall on a teenager.
Pulisic's absence from the reported squad has not been fully explained. Whether it is rest, injury management, or something else, his name missing from the list is the reason a 16-year-old's name is on it.
What happens next depends on the official roster release. If Sullivan is included, the question shifts quickly from whether he deserves it to how — and how soon — he actually plays.