Sullivan Called Up for U.S. Friendlies: A Rising Star

Sullivan, just 16, will be one of 26 players called up by Mauricio Pochettino for a four-game U.S. friendly slate running from Sept. 26 to Oct. 6, a reward for a breakout stretch that has jolted both his club and his international prospects.

The teenager has dragged a once-stumbling Philadelphia Union back into contention, driving a resurgence that has carried the club into a playoff spot. Since the World Cup, the Union have not lost a league match, and Sullivan has been right in the middle of that surge, not just as a promising prospect but as a regular influence in the side.

His rise with the senior setup has been years in the making. Sullivan has long been woven into the U.S. Youth National Team pathway, first pulling on the shirt at U-15 level and steadily climbing through the ranks. Now comes the threshold moment.

If he steps onto the field in any of those four friendlies, Sullivan will become the second-youngest player ever to appear for the U.S. senior team. Only Freddy Adu, who made his debut in January 2006, would have done it earlier.

The opportunity is exactly what Sullivan has been chasing. Earlier this month, he made no secret of how badly he wanted a U.S. chance. Now it’s here — and the next 10 days could change the shape of his career.