USMNT roster: Cavan Sullivan leads 12 MLS call-ups as 2030 World Cup cycle begins | OneFootball

By Jonathan Sigal

Amid a breakout season for the Philadelphia Union, 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan has earned his first US men's national team call-up.

The homegrown star is one of 12 MLS players on head coach Mauricio Pochettino's 28-man roster as the 2030 FIFA World Cup cycle begins with four friendlies during the September/October window.

GOALKEEPERS (4)

DEFENDERS (10)

MIDFIELDERS (9)

FORWARDS (5)

MLS call-ups are bolded above.

September & October friendlies

The USMNT will play four matches during this expanded international window, which is designed to limit disruption to the global club landscape.

The Yanks first meet two South American nations (Peru and Chile). Afterwards, they'll face two regional rivals and fellow 2026 World Cup co-hosts in Mexico and Canada.

MLS newcomers

The USMNT camp features nine MLS newcomers seeking their first cap and who are in their first senior camp.

Three are homegrown players for the Philadelphia Union: Sullivan (16), center back Neil Pierre (18) and right back Frankie Westfield (20). 

Red Bull New York have two homegrown players in midfielder Adri Mehmeti (17) and forward Julian Hall (18), and the New England Revolution are represented by homegrown wingback Peyton Miller (18) and midfielder Brooklyn Raines (21).

Orlando City homegrown forward Justin Ellis (19) is enjoying a breakout season, as is Nashville SC goalkeeper Brian Schwake (25).

Earlier this summer, Hall and Schwake helped the MLS All-Stars defeat the LIGA MX All-Stars in the 2026 MLS All-Star Game presented by Chime.

Those nine newcomers are joined by three players who represented the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup: goalkeeper Chris Brady (Chicago Fire FC), goalkeeper Matt Freese (New York City FC) and center back Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati).

MLS exports

Of the players at European clubs, eight are MLS homegrown alums.

That group includes defenders George Campbell (Atlanta United), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), Chris Richards (FC Dallas) and Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union).

There are also midfielders Tyler Adams (Red Bull New York) and Sebastian Berhalter (Columbus Crew), as well as attackers Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake) and Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas).

Gozo recently moved abroad to Premier League side Crystal Palace for a reported club-record $15 million and a sell-on fee, and Berhalter was transferred from Vancouver Whitecaps FC to EFL Championship side Middlesbrough.

An additional three players spent time in an MLS academy: Gio Reyna (NYCFC), Mathis Albert (LA Galaxy) and Cole Campbell (Atlanta).

New cycle

Pochettino signed a new deal in early August, which keeps him as USMNT head coach through 2030 and gives him a standard four-year cycle. 

The Argentine manager was originally appointed in September 2024 and had an abbreviated timeline to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.

At this summer's World Cup, the USMNT won their group outright for only the third time in program history.

With a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, they also secured the program's first Knockout Round victory since 2002. The Yanks eventually bowed out in the Round of 16 with a 4-1 defeat to Belgium.