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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Sullivan earns first MLS start in 1-0 loss to Nashville SC</li><li>15-year-old USMNT prospect showed flashes of brilliance</li><li>Became the second-youngest MLS starter ever</li><li><div data-name="Apple TV" class="affiliate-button-container theme-1"><div class="affiliate-button"><img height="40" width="72" src="https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt2de198b67da95a2e/65709d2436cf7d0407034ef9/Apple_TV.png" style="width: 72;height: 40;" class="logo"><span class="affiliate-text">Get the MLS Season Pass today!</span></div><a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=goal_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l39UY" target="_blank" class="affiliate-button-link" rel="sponsored">Stream games now</a></div></li></ul>

USMNT prospect and Manchester City-bound Cavan Sullivan, 15, makes first Philadelphia Union MLS start

<p>Cavan Sullivan, 15, earned his first professional MLS start for the Philadelphia Union Saturday evening as they fell to Nashville SC 1-0.</p><p>A match between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference heading into Matchday 22 of the campaign, Union manager Bradley Carnell took a gamble on the U.S. men's national team prospect amid a shortage of attacking players due to both international call-ups and injuries.</p><p>Sullivan, who signed the<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/cavan-sullivan-highly-philadelphia-union-manchester-city-contract/bltcafa3f6a039118cb" target="_self"> largest Homegrown deal in MLS history last summer,</a> has a clause in his contract with Philly that upon age 18, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/cavan-sullivan-highly-philadelphia-union-manchester-city-contract/bltcafa3f6a039118cb" target="_self">he will transfer to English Premier League side Manchester City.</a></p><p>Saturday marked his seventh MLS appearance of the season. He logged 61 minutes in his largest appearance of the MLS campaign so far.</p><p>Nashville's winning goal came in the 100th minute of the match, with former league MVP Hany Mukhtar sinking home from the penalty spot.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Sullivan's biggest MLS test as a professional was a monumental and historic evening as he became Philadelphia's youngest-ever starter in league action.</p><p>His performance itself was what most would expect from a teenage prospect with the hype behind him that he has -- some truly impressive moments, but some errant touches and passes as well.</p><p>Across the 61 minutes he played, Sullivan registered a passing percentage of 62.5 percent, completing 15 attempts. He registered an xG of .07 and earned a yellow card. </p><p>Overall, though, he impressed in moments on and off the ball. His work rate was excellent, and he followed a relative shape well while playing both left and right wing throughout the match. Perhaps his best action on the evening, he showed an extreme willingness to press off the ball and was unafraid to go into 50-50 challenges as well.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">📢 play the kid!<br><br>Cavan Sullivan is the youngest starter in club history and second youngest in <a href="https://twitter.com/MLS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLS</a> history!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DOOP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DOOP</a> <a href="https://t.co/mGditfaXfe">pic.twitter.com/mGditfaXfe</a></p>— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) <a href="https://twitter.com/PhilaUnion/status/1941658527677755710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
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THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>This is the third professional start with the Union's first team in Sullivan's career, with his first coming in a<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/usmnt-man-city-cavan-sullivan-first-philadelphia-union-senior-start-u-s-open-cup-thriller/blt315132184e384c6f" target="_self"> U.S. Open Cup match against Indy Eleven</a> - a penalty shootout win for Philadelphia. Sullivan also went 90 minutes in a 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.</p><p>Sullivan admitted he has aspirations to be a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/world-cup-wonderkid-cavan-sullivan-usmnt-dream-join-christian-pulisic-lionel-messi-cristiano-ronaldo-global-showpiece-america/bltb1069d56bef98165" target="_self">part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup roster with the senior USMNT</a>. </p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Sullivan and the Union return to the pitch on Wednesday, July 9, in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. </p>

WHAT NEXT FOR SULLIVAN?

USMNT prospect and Manchester City-bound Cavan Sullivan, 15, makes first Philadelphia Union MLS start | Goal.com

Sullivan, 15, became the second-youngest player to ever start an MLS match as the Union drew Nashville SC