Pochettino activates ‘Team USA 2030’: Cavan Sullivan, Mathis Albert, Julian Hall…

All it takes is to look at the medal tables of each edition of the Olympic Games to see that, globally, there is no greater sporting power than the United States. ‘Soccer’ was one of the few remaining unfinished subjects. Mauricio Pochettino , however, has already begun to activate his ‘Team USA’ with an eye on the 2030 World Cup.

United States , although they went from more to less until falling in the round of 16 against Belgium with the Balogun scandal in between, managed to lay the foundations for what they hope will be a long-term project. They finished top of their group, advanced through a knockout round for the first time since Korea and Japan 2002 , and recorded their highest number of goals (11) in a single edition of the World Cup. All of this, moreover, while playing quite attractive football… relying on what has been dubbed Pochettino's 'pentagon'.

“It wasn’t the way we wanted to finish, but it’s something we can learn from going forward,” reflected the Argentina coach. “In one year, this team showed that it can play football and compete. We still need to keep improving. But there are many players with potential and a generation of youngsters coming through behind them. It’s about continuing to believe,” he warned.

There are many players with potential and a generation of young players coming through

His first post-World Cup World Cup squad featured notable absences: Balogun, Pulisic, McKennie, Johnny Cardoso, Tim Weah, Tessman... However, taking into account that the United States was not going to play any official competition matches, he realized it was the ideal time to start integrating some of the members of that promising crop the country is managing to produce. In fact, the average age of this call-up does not exceed 23 years.

“It is a completely different approach from the past. The World Cup is in four years. We need to work with different objectives and goals. If you look at Lamine Yamal , Spain won the World Cup with an 18-year-old boy. You think: ‘No, he’s too young. He needs more experience.’ Why? He’s the best,” explained Pochettino . “If we have players of the same age —16, 17, 18, 19— and they are good… Then why not? It’s about giving them the opportunity and having them take advantage of it. That is the mentality we want to build in this process.”

The leading figure of this new generation is surely Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia, 2009) , who already has an agreement to join Manchester City when he comes of age. At just 14 years old, this teenager surpassed Freddy Adu as the youngest debutant in MLS history. Two years later, now established in the ranks of Philadelphia Union , he is living up to expectations… to the point of earning his first call-up with the United States after being involved in 12 goals since the competition resumed after the World Cup.

"He deserves all the praise he is receiving. He is performing well, providing assists and scoring goals at 16 years old," said Pochettino . "The important thing is to be with him and try to provide him with a solid platform to lean on. He still needs to show more, improve, evolve and mature," he added.

'Cavan Sullivan, however, is not the only prospect who has emerged with the United States during this break. Against Chile , Mathis Albert (Greenville, 2009) surpassed Pulisic as the youngest debutant in the history of the national team... just a few months after becoming the third-youngest player in Borussia Dortmund. Julian Hall (New York, 2008) , for his part, has found the net in the friendlies played so far by the team of "the stars and stripes".'

To them, we must also add Justin Ellis (Orlando City/2007), Brooklyn Raines (New England/2005), Adri Mehmeti (RB New York/2009), Zavier Gozo (Crystal Palace/2007), Frankie Westfield (Philadelphia Union/2005), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia Union/2007), Peyton Miller (New England/2007), Diego Kochen (Lyngby BK/2006), and Brian Schwake (Nashville/2001). In total, as many as 12 players have made their debut for the United States during this FIFA international window.

The balance is the most important thing and one of our responsibilities is to protect these kids

Pochettino , even so, calls for calm. "You have to be careful because, when you are young, you need self-confidence... but there is a limit. Balance is the most important thing and one of our responsibilities is to protect these boys because, sometimes, if you play well, you are 16,17 or 18 years old and people start talking as if you were Messi... if you get confused and do not manage it well, it can be dangerous". Excitement is through the roof with his "Team USA 2030".