Cavan Sullivan represents potential generational shift for USMNT as next World Cup cycle nears
When the 2030 World Cup rolls around, U.S.men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino will have had a full cycle to figure out his roster. That cycle will begin next week when the extended September-October international window begins, and the U.S.
team assembles for the first time since its run in this summer’s World Cup ended in the Round of 16.But the camp will serve as a fresh start for the program, as Pochettino will get his first look at the next generation, highlighted by 16-year-old phenom Cavan Sullivan. The teenager will be part of the upcoming camp, earning the first senior call-up of his career, ESPN reported Wednesday afternoon, which came as a surprise to just about nobody. The 26-man roster for this upcoming camp will be named late Thursday morning by U.S.
Soccer, but Pochettino already set the tone for what this camp will be last week when he told reporters that the idea is to mix “experienced players with young players.” With Pochettino committed to the national team through the 2030 tournament, it’s clear that he’s ready to take full advantage of the window he has to mold the program to take the next step.And Sullivan symbolizes the next crop of American stars who could help the Argentine-born coach execute his vision. Sullivan highlights a generational shift that appears to be happening for the U.S.
men’s national team program coming out of this year’s World Cup. Following Sullivan among potential first-time USMNT call-ups this window could be Red Bulls stars Julian Hall, 18, who the team’s head of sport Julian de Guzman told The Post “should be amongst the player pool for the next generation” for the national team; and Adri Mehmeti, 17.Sullivan’s Philadelphia teammate Neil Pierre, 18, and Crystal Palace forward Zavier Gozo, 19, are expected to earn call-ups as well, according to Yahoo Sports. “The project is 2030,” he said.
“That needs to be our aim.… The next camp is going to be an opportunity t...