Cavan Sullivan earns his first USMNT callup, as do Union teammates Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield

Union phenom Cavan Sullivan’s rapid rise in the soccer world reached a new milestone on Thursday, as the 16-year-old earned his first invitation to the senior U.S. men’s national team.

Union teammates Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield will join the teen phenom.

Part of a three-generation soccer family with roots in Northeast Philadelphia’s Bridesburg neighborhood, Sullivan has seemed destined at times to get here.

Since the Union resumed their season after the World Cup, Sullivan has scored six goals and added five assists in 12 appearances. They include some highlight-reel moments that seized headlines across the globe: a dazzling trap and run for a goal at Red Bull New York on Aug. 29, and a backheeled finish in a 5-0 rout at San Diego FC on Sunday

The only player in MLS to contribute to more goals in the same stretch of the season is Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, who is regarded as soccer’s greatest of all time.

Sullivan’s work has helped the Union launch a stunning 11-game unbeaten run in league play. Led by interim manager Ryan Richter, who has known Sullivan for many years, the club has risen from a 1-10-4 record and last place at the World Cup break to 9-10-6, currently sitting in seventh place in MLS’ Eastern Conference.

A win on Saturday at Sporting Kansas City (8:30 p.m., Apple TV), plus some help elsewhere, could see the Union rise to sixth before the national team window starts Monday.

» READ MORE: Cavan Sullivan cemented his case for making the U.S. men’s national team in the Union’s rout of San Diego

U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino and his staff have watched it all from afar. Though they kept their cards close about whether they’d call Sullivan up, Pochettino acknowledged earlier this month that “Philadelphia has good young players, good kids, that maybe we will call a few [of].”

That promptly sent the volume even higher, and not just around MLS. They’re watching on Europe’s big stage, too, since Sullivan is due to join English superpower Manchester City at the end of 2027.

The deal was agreed at the same time that he turned pro with his hometown club as a 14-year-old in 2024. While neither club can discuss it publicly because of British labor laws, everyone knows the clock is ticking.

Right now, Sullivan is enjoying the present. He’s kept amply grounded by his coaches, teammates, and family – especially oldest brother Quinn Sullivan, a stalwart of the Union in his own right, who earned national team experience last year.

» READ MORE: Cavan Sullivan has seized the headlines from even Lionel Messi in MLS

Cavan showed that again Sunday night, when a reporter in San Diego asked if he thinks about his future in Europe.

“In my mind, it’s just a playoff spot here, and [I’m] focused on game by game and getting better each week here in Philadelphia,” Sullivan said. “For now, I’m in my hometown, and I’m loving it.”

The plan to get Sullivan to begin his career in Chester, with the right mix of firmness and care, has worked perfectly so far. And it is the latest endorsement of the Union’s youth academy, which has become a remarkable pipeline for U.S. national team talent.

Four of its alumni were on this year’s U.S. World Cup team, all with Philadelphia-area roots: goalkeeper Matt Freese, centerbacks Mark McKenzie and Auston Trusty, and midfielder Brenden Aaronson. A year earlier, the Concacaf Gold Cup squad had six current or former Union players, and in 2024 the Olympic team had three.

» READ MORE: Before Ryan Richter became the Union’s interim manager, he was a hooper from Bucks County with Iverson-like swag

Now a new era is arriving, and not just Sullivan. He’s joined on this squad by two more of the Union’s leading youngsters, 18-year-old centerback Neil Pierre and 20-year-old outside back Frankie Westfield.

Both are major candidates for the 2028 Olympic squad, which is a big part of why they were called up. The tournament is an under-23 age-group event, and this window is one of the only chances for candidates to get senior national team experience before they go into their own training regimen.

They also both have local roots. Pierre was born in Lebanon, Pa., and his family moved to Blue Bell so his older brother Nelson could join the Union’s academy as a kid. In time, Neil made his own impression, and now is the club’s top centerback prospect since McKenzie and Trusty.

He’s impossible to miss on the field, standing 6-foot-7. He’s scored four goals since joining the Union’s first team this summer. But he also has proven he has the defensive chops to mix it up with veterans, and a terrific passing game.

» READ MORE: A look back at Neil Pierre's first big game for the Union this year

Westfield grew up at the other end of Northeast Philadelphia from the Sullivans, in Morrell Park. For a while, he might not have been the most famous athlete in his house, at least locally: his brother Rocco starred for the Father Judge High School boys’ basketball team that won the last two Catholic League championships.

Frankie made his pro debut the night before Rocco claimed the first of his titles. Now he has made a name for himself.

The Union trio is part of a fleet of fascinating youngsters on this latest U.S. squad. Others include Chester-born centerback George Campbell of England’s West Bromwich Albion; wingers Mathis Albert of Germany’s Borussia Dortmund and Zavier Gozo of England’s Crystal Palace; forward Julian Hall and midfielder Adri Mehmeti of Red Bull New York; and goalkeeper Diego Kochen of Denmark’s Lyngby, who is on loan from Spanish giant FC Barcelona.

Eleven of the 26 players on the squad are newcomers, with 13 returnees from the World Cup. Among the latter are Freese, Trusty, and perennial locker room leaders Chris Richards and Tyler Adams.

» READ MORE: Mauricio Pochettino praises the Union’s young stars

“This is the beginning of a fresh start for everyone, and we are excited in these first matches to bring a group of experienced players along with some young talents who have great potential,” Pochettino said in a statement ahead of a scheduled news conference on Thursday at 11:30 a.m.

It’s expected that the Union’s trio will talk after Thursday’s training session ends, around the same time.

The Americans will take the field starting Monday at the national training center in suburban Atlanta, then head off to a cross-country journey with four games: Peru in Orlando on Sept. 26, Chile in St. Louis on Sept. 29, rivals Mexico in Glendale, Ariz. on Oct. 3, and Canada in St. Paul, Minn., on Oct. 6.

Local products in bold

Goalkeepers (4): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Diego Kochen (Lyngby, Denmarl), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC)

Defenders (10): George Campbell (West Bromwich Albion, England), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Alex Freeman (Villarreal, Spain), Peyton Miller (New England Revolution), Neil Pierre (Union), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace, England), Antonee Robinson (Fulham, England), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Auston Trusty (Celtic, Scotland), Frankie Westfield (Union)

Midfielders (9): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth, England), Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Sebastian Berhalter (Middlesbrough, England), Zavier Gozo (Crystal Palace), Adri Mehmeti (Red Bull New York), Yunus Musah (AC Milan, Italy), Brooklyn Raines (New England Revolution), Gio Reyna (Strasbourg, France), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)

Forwards (5): Cole Campbell (Elversberg, Germany); Justin Ellis (Orlando City), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Cavan Sullivan (Union)

Saturday, Sept. 26: vs. Peru at Inter.co Stadium, Orlando, 4:30 p.m. (TNT, truTV, Telemundo 62, Universo, HBO Max, Peacock)

Tuesday, Sept. 29: 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)