ORLANDO — After a week of work in the lush surroundings of U.S. Soccer’s national training center, the fun now begins for the next era of its senior men’s team.
Saturday’s matchup with Peru (4:30 p.m., TNT, Telemundo 62) kicks off a four-game, 10-day road show stretching from Florida to Georgia, Missouri, Arizona, and Minnesota. It’s the first time FIFA has held a national team window this long outside of the summer, but it means Mauricio Pochettino and his coaching staff can get a proper look at the 12 newcomers on this 28-player squad.
It also means all 28 players have a shot at playing time, and yes, that includes Cavan Sullivan. Pochettino was peppered with questions about the Union’s 16-year-old phenom in his news conference Friday morning, as the national media continues to be drawn to Sullivan’s hype train.
Pochettino didn’t say much about Sullivan directly, or any of his other young prospects. But the manager did acknowledge that the Bridesburg native has made a good first impression.
“Well, if we only talk about his performance, he’s doing really well in MLS, in his club in Philadelphia,” Pochettino said in one of his answers. “Talking only about that, I think he’s ready. But the rest of the players, too, are ready.”
A few minutes later, he added: “I think he’s doing really well in Philadelphia, and that is why he is here. He’s mature enough on the field to be there and to compete.”
A step back from individuals brought a lot more perspective. It’s clear that Pochettino has embraced bringing in a new era of young players, as the U.S. program looks ahead to the 2028 Olympics and the 2030 World Cup.
“Of course you want to talk about the kids, and it’s amazing to have on board those players,” he said. “First of all, because they have talent — and they are showing their real talent, because they have an amazing capacity and quality. And then the energy was amazing. It’s very contagious, that energy.”
He also spoke of how well the newcomers have blended in with the veterans, including a dozen from this summer’s World Cup team.
“I think the mix between senior players and the young [players] has become very organic and natural now, after a few days,” Pochettino said. “It’s a group of players [where] you don’t feel that someone is called for the first time or someone has 100 caps. … Of course, the younger [players] show tremendous respect to the senior players — they are humble enough to listen. But also, the senior players, they are so good in the way that they treat the young kids, because they also show respect to them.”
There’s nothing new in soccer about teenage pros, but they are especially prevalent in the world’s game right now. The U.S. will likely encounter another marquee one next Saturday in Mexico’s Gilberto Mora. Others are dotted around Europe and South America: England’s Max Dowman, Brazil’s Estevão, Spain’s Lamine Yamal, and many more.
While American soccer has mostly gotten used to them by now, there’s still a novelty element, with Sullivan serving as a clear example.
But one thing these young American newcomers are experiencing? The initiation ritual of singing in front of the team.
We don’t yet know what song Sullivan chose, or Union teammates Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield. Zavier Gozo of England’s Crystal Palace (and formerly Real Salt Lake) admitted earlier this week that he chose “Let Me Love You” by Mario, which was written three years before the outside back was born.
Chris Richards spoke on behalf of the veterans when he said, “there’s some people who are really good singers, and I’ll tell you Zavier did really well … and I’ll say there are some people who probably shouldn’t sing anymore.”
Pochettino was entertained. He also used it as one of many moments to learn about the players off the field.
“When they arrive, the first day on the training ground with us, in the hotel, and how they talk, how they move, how they are,” he said. “How quirky they are when they go in front of 60 or 70 people and start to sing like a pop star. You start to see their personality, their character.”
And while some American cultural references still go over Pochettino’s head two years into the job, one thing about his communication with the young players is universal.
“After talking with them, it’s like you feel younger,” he said. “It’s a long time that I didn’t feel this way, talking and working with a group of players. That is amazing for us, for the present and for the future.”
USMNT schedule
- Saturday: vs. Peru at Inter&Co. Stadium, Orlando, 4:30 p.m. (TNT, truTV, Telemundo 62, Universo, HBO Max, Peacock)
- Tuesday: vs. Chile at Energizer Park, St. Louis, 8 p.m. (TNT, truTV, Telemundo 62, Universo, HBO Max, Peacock)
- Saturday, Oct. 3: vs. Mexico at State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz., 10 p.m. (TNT, Telemundo 62, Universo, HBO Max, Peacock)
- Tuesday, Oct. 6: vs. Canada at Allianz Field, St. Paul, Minn., 8 p.m. (TNT, truTV, Universo, HBO Max, Peacock)
Leave a Reply