Sixteen-year-old Kavan Sullivan has earned a place in the United States national football squad, marking a significant step in the career of the Bangladeshi-born teenager as head coach Mauricio Pochettino continues to shape the team with the 2030 World Cup in mind.
Sullivan is among eight young players included in Pochettino’s 28-man squad for a series of upcoming international friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada. The selection reflects the coach’s intention to combine established international players with emerging talent as the United States looks towards the next World Cup cycle.
Sullivan has Bangladeshi family roots. He is the brother of Ronan and Declan Sullivan, two footballers who have represented Bangladesh at age-group level. Their grandmother, Sultana, moved from Bangladesh to the United States and settled there. Sullivan has subsequently developed his football career in the United States, rising through the ranks before making an impression in Major League Soccer (MLS).
The teenager has been one of the notable young performers for Philadelphia Union. Despite his age, he has already started 16 MLS matches, scoring six goals and providing nine assists. His contribution in front of goal and ability to create opportunities for teammates have attracted considerable attention, including from English champions Manchester City.
Sullivan is expected to join Manchester City when he turns 18, with the Etihad Stadium set to become the next major stage of his developing career. The proposed move underlines the level of interest surrounding a player who has made rapid progress while still in his mid-teens.
Pochettino has also spoken highly of Sullivan’s performances. The Argentine coach pointed to the teenager’s goals, assists and ability to perform in a demanding professional league despite being only 16. For Sullivan, however, international football represents a different challenge, with the level of competition and expectations increasing considerably when playing for a national side.
The United States head coach has been given a long-term opportunity to develop the team after renewing his contract with the US football authorities through the 2030 World Cup. His current squad selection suggests that youth development will form part of that process, with several promising players being introduced alongside more experienced members of the national side.
The squad will, however, be without two prominent names. Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun are unavailable because of injuries. Pochettino has nevertheless retained 13 experienced players, providing a balance between established internationals and the younger members of the group.
The United States will begin the upcoming series of matches against Peru in Orlando, Florida, on 26 September. Chile, Mexico and Canada will follow in the programme. Those fixtures will give Pochettino an opportunity to assess his options ahead of the longer-term build-up to the 2030 World Cup.
For Sullivan, the call-up represents another landmark moment in a career that has developed at remarkable speed. He will turn 17 on 28 September, just days after the opening fixture against Peru. Whether he makes his senior international debut during the upcoming matches remains to be seen, but his inclusion has already placed the Bangladeshi-rooted teenager among the young players being watched closely as the United States prepares for its next generation.
