Cavan Sullivan Earns Historic Start for United States in Peru Friendly

Cavan Sullivan, aged 16 years and 362 days, became the youngest player to start for the U.S. since Freddy Adu in 2006 during Saturday's match against Peru.

Cavan Sullivan earned his first cap for the United States on Saturday, becoming the youngest player to start for the national team since Freddy Adu in 2006. Manager Mauricio Pochettino selected the 16-year-old for the starting XI in a friendly against Peru. At 16 years and 362 days old, Sullivan is the fourth-youngest player to ever earn a cap for the U.S., trailing Adu’s 2006 record of 16 years and 234 days.

Sullivan received the callup following a period of high productivity for the Philadelphia Union, where he recorded seven goals and 12 assists across 26 MLS matches. His performance helped the Union climb to sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Earlier in September, the attacker set a new record by scoring in three consecutive MLS games, surpassing a mark previously held by Adu.

The Philadelphia Union midfielder previously made professional history on July 17, 2024, debuting in MLS at 14 years and 293 days old. That appearance broke Adu's 2004 record by 13 days to make Sullivan the youngest player in any major North American professional sports league. Pochettino noted in a pre-match news conference that Sullivan is "mature enough on the field" and is performing well at the club level.

Sullivan, who turns 17 on Sept. 28, is part of a squad scheduled for additional international fixtures this window. Following the Peru match, the United States is slated to play friendlies against Chile, Mexico, and Canada.