Followers of the United States Men’s National Team are creating potential rosters for the 2030 World Cup, attempting to predict the makeup of the squad by weighing current talents against those emerging from development pathways. A lot can happen between now and then, including the integration of new additions. Stuart Hawkins is one potential name to watch, getting his first serious run at first-team soccer and picking up several starts in Major League Soccer. The 19-year-old Seattle Sounders centre-back
has the time to grow and improve, with the additional benefit of upcoming youth international competitions and the Olympics.
Born in Fox Island, Washington, Hawkinsplayed with Harbor Soccer Club and joined the Seattle Sounders academy at the age of 12. He was a memberof the Under-17 side that won the Generation adidas Cup and was named Most Valuable Player, emerging as “one of [the] top-performingplayers week in and week out within [the] youth system.” The defender was also selected as an MLS NEXT All-Star in 2022 and 2023, and TopDrawerSoccer listedhim as a five-star recruit.
Hawkins was promoted to the reserve level in 2022, making four MLS NEXT Pro appearances, demonstratinghis “varied skill set and eagerness to learn.” During the following season, he made 23 combined appearances and scored a goal against the Colorado Rapids 2 as the side reached the playoff quarterfinals. Seattle signed him to a Homegrown contract through 2026 with options for 2027 and 2028.
“I like the hard work that comes with it, training every day,” saidHawkins in 2023. “It gives me purpose, I feel. The games on the weekend, and the praise that comes with it when you put in the hard work, [are] extra. I like putting in the work when people aren’t watching … [Practicing with the Sounders], I was like, ‘Dang, this is crazy.’ I watch these guys on TV, and I’m training with them now. You keep your head down and keep a straight face and do the work.”
In 2024, Hawkins featured22 times with the reserves, notching a goal and an assistas the campaign ended in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs. The defender also made his first-team debut with two successful starts in the early stages of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup while featuringtwice on the bench during league play. Last season, he split focus between the reserve and senior teams, as theclub had “high hopes for him.” The developing talent played six times in MLS NEXT Pro, scoring another goal; his experience with the MLS squad totaled eight matches, four apiece between the league and Open Cup. However, a quadinjury and a premature return kept him off the field for several weeks.
This year, Hawkins hada spell of reserve appearances and dealt with his lingering quad injury before seeing himself seemingly permanently elevated to the first team. After the World Cup break, he played six minutes in a 5-1 loss to Portland and has featuredin eight total matches in the midst of a dismal winless streak. His first senior goal came in a 2-1 loss to Austin FC, shedding his marker and heading home a free kick. The young talent is attempting “to play to his strengths,” which means focusingon his distribution out of the back, while also seeking to improve on his decision-making.
“It’s a big deal for me because I know the work I’ve done to get to this point,” Hawkins toldlocal media. “I’m happy to be on the field and just want to help the team win … I think once I had those injuries, the quad injury, I think I learned a lot about myself, more so [from] a [mentality] standpoint, but also physical. [I] learned a lot. I grew a lot in that time. So, [I did] a lot of work in the gym … I think just staying neutral [is important]. I think [what] I learned, especially through that time of injury I had, is there’s highs and there’s lows.”
At the international level, Hawkins begancompeting with the United States at the Under-17 level. He was a member of the team that finished runner-up at the 2023 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, starting in most of the matches, and was a key player during the run to the Round of 16 at the ensuing U-17 World Cup. The following year saw him feature at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship, appearing in four matches that led to another second-place finish. His most recent duty came with the Under-20 team for June’s friendlies.
Standing at six feet, three inchestall, Hawkins is a centre-back who is capableof making “immaculate” passes and “setting up defenders and freezing them with a look.” He has the confidenceto make runs from his own penalty area and join the attack, displaying “athletic composure” and a “youthful vigor” when pressingforward. Observersdescribe him as a “ball-playing” fixture with line-breaking distribution who needs to develop more of a physical edgeand “get a little better in the air with more game experience.”
“He is really efficient with his movement due to his elite soccer IQ,” readsa scouting report on Chasing a Cup. “He has an incredible feel and instinct for the game at his age, which is why you rarely see him out of position and you rarely see him look like he isn’t perfectly comfortable with what is going on around him. He times his tackles well, but rarely needs to take too many risks because of his great positioning … On the ball, he is also very good. His touch is smart and clean and he passes the ball to different areas of the field with confidence.”
Hawkins is still a teenager for a few more weeks, with years of development before even conceivably entering his prime. However, he is receiving crucial reps and experience at an age when most players are still attempting to work their way into a senior squad. These are exciting times for the USMNT, when talents brimming with potential offer a glimpse into possible tournament glories and provide supporters with hope of a brighter future.
