16-Year-Old Cavan Sullivan Dreams of USA World Cup Spot

Sixteen-year-old Cavan Sullivan is locked onto one goal: breaking into the United States men's national team squad. The Philadelphia Union midfielder told Alexi Lalas on his State of the Union podcast that he could have stepped in during the World Cup round of 16 loss to Belgium and changed the outcome. "Thinking of that Belgium game, I think I could come into that game on the right side and make a difference, right?" Sullivan said. "That's just what you have to do. Believe in yourself. Think you can help your team win." He admitted it is not his team yet, but he dreams of getting called up every single day.

Sullivan arrived at this point faster than almost anyone else. At age 14, he became the youngest player ever to appear in a Major League Soccer match. He also holds the record for the youngest debut in any major American or Canadian pro sports league. That hype grows by the hour within MLS and could soon spread globally. Fans expect him to move to Manchester City at the end of 2027 when he turns 18.

The teenager watches the senior national team closely, especially after their early exit from this World Cup as tournament co-hosts. "The U.S. made some noise for sure," Sullivan said. "I think it was dope." He pointed to Alex Freeman's header against Australia as a defining moment that shook him. "Freeman's header, that moment, I texted my family group chat," he explained. "That gave me goosebumps. I think that was so cool. The crowd pop was insane." Hearing stadiums sing across the country and seeing celebrations left a deep mark on him. "I think the country roads, all that stuff, I ate that up," Sullivan added. He is patriotic and loved what he saw, yet felt it was unfortunate to lose that early. He believes that team could have gone much farther.

Right now, Sullivan will stay in America for at least one more year before heading abroad to Manchester City. As the national team starts its next World Cup cycle, this 16-year-old midfielder keeps working toward a major shift. He wants to move from watching big tournament moments as a fan to creating them on the world stage.