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The U.S. men's national team is nearly set for the fall, with Mauricio Pochettino preparing to unveil his squad for a four-game friendly window against Chile, Peru, Canada and Mexico on Thursday, marking the start of a fresh four-year cycle in the buildup to the 2030 World Cup.
While the international break won't feature competitive fixtures, it offers an opportunity to introduce new faces alongside experienced players, with the aim of gauging where the USMNT player pool stands ahead of November's Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal.
Pochettino will still aim for a well-rounded roster as he pursues his first victories against Canada and Mexico since taking charge of the Stars and Stripes. Nevertheless, there will be openings for young talents to make their mark, given the reduced pressure compared to a pre-World Cup window.
Here, Sports Illustrated examines three teenagers who could earn a call-up when Pochettino's roster is announced Thursday.
Cavan Sullivan
If it were entirely up to Pochettino's judgment, calling in a 16-year-old likely wouldn't be on his agenda, given his emphasis on "confidence" and "arrogance" as qualities young players must channel correctly to develop into senior national team contributors. Yet, Philadelphia Union's Cavan Sullivan may be making the decision impossible to ignore at this stage, thanks to his outstanding form in MLS.
The Union winger is a star in the making and has flourished under interim manager Ryan Richter, who has guided the club into MLS Cup playoff contention despite the team sitting bottom of the Eastern Conference heading into the break.
Sullivan's delicate touch, composure on the ball, fearless dribbling and sharp off-ball movement are well ahead of his age and have been on full display in recent weeks. Over his last seven matches, he has registered five goals and seven assists, highlighted by a stunning backheel flick goal in a 5–0 victory over San Diego FC.
With 11 assists this season, he has already broken Alphonso Davies's record for the most in a single MLS campaign by a teenager, and combined with his six goals, he sits just three goal contributions shy of Diego Fagúndez's record for the most by a teenager in a regular season.
Should the Manchester City prospect make the roster, expect Pochettino to manage his involvement far more cautiously than Philadelphia have, likely limiting him to brief substitute appearances across the four matches as he adjusts to the demands of representing his country.
Neil Pierre
Rising alongside Sullivan as part of a youthful surge in Philadelphia, Neil Pierre is rapidly cementing himself as one of the top center backs in MLS. Standing at 6'7", there is no comparable player in the current pool. Factor in a likely opening at the heart of defense due to Tim Ream's age, and Pierre could be pushing for a starting role sooner than most would expect of an 18-year-old.
Pierre has adapted swiftly to starting responsibilities with the Union in the second half of this season, following his return from a loan spell with Lyngby in Denmark's top flight. Beyond his defensive ability and composure in building from the back, he is emerging as one of the league's most dangerous set-piece threats, netting four times from dead-ball situations during the Union's strong run of form.
Like Sullivan, he may not yet be ready for full-time USMNT duties, but the opening window of a new cycle should give him a valuable taste of the environment and help him identify areas for growth. Next year, he is also expected to partner with USMNT center back Mark McKenzie at the Union, a combination that could further accelerate his path to becoming a key national team figure.
Zavier Gozo
Zavier Gozo made a late push for the 2026 World Cup roster but ultimately fell short despite recording six goals and five assists across 16 MLS appearances. While his output wasn't sufficient to earn a place in Pochettino's summer plans, it was enough to land him an MLS All-Star Game selection and a $15 million transfer from Real Salt Lake to Premier League club Crystal Palace.
The 19-year-old versatile fullback and wingback has alternated between Crystal Palace's U-21 side and the senior squad so far in 2026–27, but has shown he is still a step behind the physical and pace demands of the Premier League at this stage, as highlighted in his second appearance against Ipswich Town following a slightly more encouraging debut against Manchester City.
At this stage, given Gozo's limited playing time and the USMNT's depth at his position, meaningful minutes at the senior level seem unlikely in the near term. However, he possesses considerable potential and could grow into a more prominent international asset, while also competing for a spot in Steve Cherundolo's U-23 U.S. squad for the L.A. 2028 Olympics.