Cavan Sullivan has scored six goals over his last six MLS matches for the Philadelphia Union while also receiving his first call-up to the senior United States national team. There is an important distinction in how the run should be described: he did not score in six consecutive games. Across his six most recent matches, he scored six goals in total, with one scoreless game against FC Cincinnati in which he provided three assists.
What Cavan Sullivan's run actually means
The stretch began on August 22 in a 1-1 draw with Austin FC, when Sullivan scored in the 18th minute. Goals against Red Bull New York and CF Montréal followed. On September 9, in a 5-0 win over FC Cincinnati, he did not score but directly contributed to three goals with assists. In the next match against San Diego FC, he scored twice. On September 19, he scored the 3-3 equalizer during the Philadelphia Union's 4-3 comeback victory over Sporting Kansas City.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Sullivan goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 22 | Austin FC, away | 1-1 | 1, 18' | 0 |
| Aug. 29 | Red Bull New York, away | 3-1 | 1, 50' | 0 |
| Sept. 5 | CF Montréal, home | 2-0 | 1, 75' | 0 |
| Sept. 9 | FC Cincinnati, home | 5-0 | 0 | 3 |
| Sept. 13 | San Diego FC, away | 5-0 | 2, 45+5' and 62' | 1 |
| Sept. 19 | Sporting Kansas City, away | 4-3 | 1, 66' | 1 |
Across that six-match sample, Sullivan produced six goals and five assists. The most accurate way to describe his current form is therefore six goals in six games, not a goal in each of six consecutive games.
Sullivan's season numbers after the comeback in Kansas City
In the 4-3 victory over Sporting Kansas City, Sullivan finished with one goal and one assist. According to MLS, he moved to 19 goal contributions in the 2026 regular season, with seven goals and 12 assists.
The 12 assists set the MLS single-season record for a teenage player. With 19 goal contributions, Sullivan also tied Alphonso Davies, who reached the same total in 2018, for the second-most goal contributions by a teenager in one MLS regular season. The league notes that Diego Fagúndez holds the record with 20 in 2013.
Sullivan's individual form has coincided with the Philadelphia Union's turnaround. After the match in Kansas City, the club reached 11 games unbeaten since MLS resumed following the 2026 World Cup break, with eight wins and three draws in that span.
How old is Cavan Sullivan?
Sullivan was born on September 28, 2009, according to the Philadelphia Union. That means he is 16 years old on September 20, 2026 and will turn 17 on September 28.
The midfielder had already drawn attention for his age before this current run. In July 2024, he made his MLS debut at 14 years and 293 days. The club recorded that appearance as the youngest debut at the time across the major North American professional team sports leagues.
What is confirmed about his first USMNT call-up
The call-up is official. On September 17, U.S. Soccer announced a 28-player roster for friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada. Sullivan is listed among the forwards with zero senior caps and zero senior goals, confirming this is his first call-up to the senior squad.
Players began reporting to Atlanta on September 20. The federation's schedule has Peru on September 26 in Orlando, Chile on September 29 in St. Louis, Mexico on October 3 in Glendale and Canada on October 6 in St. Paul. Sullivan was selected alongside two other Philadelphia Union academy products, Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield, who are also uncapped at senior level.
A call-up is not the same as a debut
Being in camp does not mean Sullivan already has a senior international appearance. To earn his first cap, he must enter one of the matches. At the time the roster was announced, U.S. Soccer officially listed him with zero senior appearances.
How his MLS form connects to the national-team camp
The call-up arrived during Sullivan's most productive stretch in MLS. Before the Sporting Kansas City match, the Philadelphia Union noted that he had six goals and 11 assists on the season and had expanded his role as a starter after the World Cup break. His next performance, with a goal and an assist, pushed those totals to seven goals and 12 assists.
The roster context also matters. Mauricio Pochettino presented the four-match window as the beginning of a new national-team cycle toward 2030. The 28-player group includes 13 players without a senior cap, making the camp an evaluation and integration opportunity rather than a guarantee of a permanent place in the squad.
What to watch next
There are three objective developments to follow. First is whether Sullivan makes his senior national-team debut during the window from September 26 to October 6. Second is the role and minutes he receives if used. Third is how he returns to the MLS season after international duty, already on 19 goal contributions and close to the teenage single-season record cited by the league.
The central facts are therefore clear: Sullivan has six goals over the Philadelphia Union's last six matches and enters his first senior USMNT camp at age 16. The run is notable on its own without describing it as six consecutive games with a goal.
