Kochen and 17-year-old Sullivan start as Pochettino fields youthful USA side against Mexico

Barcelona goalkeeper Diego Kochen and 17-year-old Philadelphia Union attacker Cavan Sullivan both start for the United States men’s national team against Mexico at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday, with a sellout crowd of 64,000 expected at the home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.

Kochen, 20, made his senior international debut just last week, keeping a clean sheet across 45 minutes of the USA’s 4-1 win over Peru. He earns the nod ahead of Matt Freese, who started all five U.S. games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with coach Mauricio Pochettino opting for the South Florida native despite Kochen’s limited club form — one clean sheet in nine Danish Superliga appearances for Lyngby, where Barcelona sent him on loan for the 2026-27 season.

Sullivan, who turned 17 on Monday, started the Peru game to become the second-youngest starter in the 113-year history of the U.S. men’s program and the fourth-youngest overall. He came off the bench in the Americans’ 4-2 win over Chile last Tuesday in St. Louis before earning another starting berth here.

Pochettino, the 54-year-old former Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain manager, said at Friday’s pre-match press conference that his lineup would blend experience with youth. Two-time World Cup veterans Antonee Robinson, Gio Reyna and Tyler Adams — whom Pochettino named captain on the eve of the match — provide the senior backbone, alongside 2026 World Cup goalscorers Alex Freeman, Sebastian Berhalter and Auston Trusty.

Leading the attack is 18-year-old Red Bull New York striker Julian Hall, who scored in each of his first two U.S. appearances last month and makes his second consecutive start against El Tri.

Although Kochen missed out on Pochettino’s World Cup roster, he served as a training goalkeeper during the USA’s pre-tournament camp. The four-game international window closes on Tuesday when the United States face Canada in St. Paul, Minnesota.