MLS record-breaker Cavan Sullivan, 16, targets USMNT call-up ahead of Manchester City move

Cavan Sullivan, the 16-year-old Philadelphia Union midfielder who already holds the record as the youngest player to appear in a Major League Soccer match, has set his sights on earning a call-up to the United States men’s national team — and he is not short of confidence about what he could offer.

Speaking on Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union podcast, Sullivan reflected on the USMNT’s round-of-16 exit at the 2026 World Cup and said he believed he could have contributed had he been involved. “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 believe in yourself, you have to think you can help your team win. It’s not my team yet, but I’m obviously always dreaming and hoping [for] call-ups.”

Sullivan made history in 2024 when, at age 14, he became not only the youngest player to feature in an MLS match but also the youngest to debut in any major American or Canadian professional sports league. His rapid development has fuelled significant attention both domestically and abroad.

That attention is set to intensify. Sullivan is expected to join Premier League club Manchester City at the end of 2027, when he turns 18 — a move that would take his profile to a global stage.

For now, the teenager remains focused on his development with Philadelphia Union while keeping a close eye on the senior national team. Despite the USA’s early World Cup exit, Sullivan said the co-hosts made a genuine impression on the tournament. “The U.S. made some noise for sure, I think it was dope,” he said.

He singled out Alex Freeman’s header against Australia as a standout moment. “Freeman’s header, that moment, I texted my family group chat, that actually gave me goosebumps,” Sullivan said. “I think that was so cool, I think the crowd pop was insane.”

The atmosphere generated by home crowds also left a mark on the midfielder. “I think the country roads, all that stuff, I ate that up,” he said. “I’m pretty patriotic and I love that stuff so it was really cool to see.”

Sullivan acknowledged the disappointment of the USA’s early elimination, adding: “Unfortunate to lose that early, I feel like that team could have gone much farther.”

With at least one more year of MLS football ahead of him before any potential move to England, Sullivan is working to close the gap between watching those moments as a supporter and creating them as a player.