The U.S. men's national team is coming off arguably the best World Cup showing in the program's history, but the deflating 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16 did spark plenty of reasonable questions about the team's future.
Notably: Who is going to be the player to lead the next generation of the USMNT?
It's starting to look like 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan. And on Saturday, we saw exactly why.
Sullivan signed with Manchester City as a 14-year-old with the plan to play with the Philadelphia Union in MLS until he's 18. Sullivan does have a German passport that would have allowed him to play for a Bundesliga side, but he took a risk to stay stateside. And the past few weeks, he's done everything he can to show he's worth the hype.
Cavan Sullivan,
that's a BEAUTY 🤩 The 16-year-old scores in back-to-back games to double the @PhilaUnion lead! pic.twitter.com/xEPIrxMb5M
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 30, 2026
In Saturday's 3-1 win over the New York Red Bulls, Sullivan scored an incredible goal that required so much individual skill. The touch to receive the ball, the cutback and the powerful finish — it was all poise beyond his years. Sullivan has six goal contributions in his past five matches and looks to be showing his deserves a call-up to Mauricio Pochettino's September/October squad.
USMNT fans were certainly clamoring to see more of Sullivan after that goal.
How social media reacted
Unbelievable goal from the future star Cavan Sullivan 👀🇺🇸💫 pic.twitter.com/UclLLGG6ID
— USMNTrev (@Eyesandvibes) August 30, 2026
CAVAN SULLIVAN IS A PROBLEM 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OLewbabftD
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) August 30, 2026
Man. I try to stay away from the hype but we might actually have a special one. https://t.co/QwoNwpRZnz
— USACFC (@USACFC_) August 30, 2026
I’m ready to believe again. 2030 is calling
— dylan (@dylanorrell) August 30, 2026
get this kid up https://t.co/zkQwWN0Ozh
Sullivan is on a massive hot streak and yes, should be in the Sept/Oct roster. While exciting to see, he's only 16, he needs to go slow, his MLS play is more than on the right track.
— Kelvin Loyola (@KelvinLoyola) August 30, 2026
CALM... #USMNT https://t.co/JbHc0Q5tAo
Sensational finish from Cavan Sullivan to double the Union’s lead in New Jersey.
— Larry Henry Jr (@lhenry019) August 30, 2026
Will be fully shocked if he is not in #USMNT camp this September-October.
Zero reason to hold him back any longer. https://t.co/KqOT7MyUUJ
i swear he looks so much like pulisic in this clip. especially when he’s celebrating https://t.co/sBXEAUtZOH
— farouk (kabamaxxing) (@typhalive) August 30, 2026
Young goat. Lets cook https://t.co/7YcvQ9bNKl
— Evan Gilkey (@e_gilkey1) August 30, 2026
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan's sensational goal had fans hyping up the USMNT prospect
