Teen Duo Cavan Sullivan and Diego Kochen Start for USA vs. Mexico

Cavan Sullivan and Diego Kochen are both in coach Mauricio Pochettino's starting XI for Saturday's exhibition against Mexico at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., per www.foxsports.com.

The 17-year-old Philadelphia Union attacker, who turned 17 on Monday, lines up alongside a 20-year-old Barcelona goalkeeper making his first career start for the U.S. men's national team. Kochen's senior debut came a week ago, when he played the second half of the USA's 4-1 win over Peru.

A sellout crowd of 64,000 fans is expected at the home of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals for the rivalry match just outside Phoenix.

Kochen gets the nod over Matt Freese, who started all five U.S. games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while Sullivan follows up his start against Peru — where he became the second-youngest starter in the 113-year history of the U.S. men's program — with another place in Pochettino's 11.

For a teenager who just celebrated a birthday and a goalkeeper making his first start, Saturday is the biggest stage yet.

HOW THEY EARNED THE START

What have these two teenagers done recently to justify starting?

Cavan Sullivan, who turned 17 on Monday, started against Peru and became the second-youngest starter in the 113-year history of the U.S. men's program. He's the fourth-youngest overall to appear for the senior team. In the Americans' most recent outing, a 4-2 victory over Chile last Tuesday in St. Louis, Sullivan came off the bench.

Diego Kochen didn't allow a goal in his 45 minutes of action against Peru. That clean half came a week before this start, after the Barcelona goalkeeper made his senior international debut in the second half of the USA's 4-1 win over Peru.