The USMNT under Mauricio Pochettino played their first friendly match of the international break and their first game after the 2026 World Cup.
The USMNT defeated Peru 4-1 at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, where any young players made their senior USMNT debuts.
Mauricio Pochettino called up many youngsters from MLS to this USMNT camp, and three players under 20 started the match, including Philadelphia Union star Cavan Sullivan.
One of the youngsters who started in his first senior USMNT game scored his first goal with the national team: Orlando City’s 19-year-old Justin Ellis. Ellis opened the scoring in the 4th minute with a header from a set piece by Gio Reyna.
Photo by Alex Menendez/USSF/Getty Images
Other players who made their debut for the USMNT were George Campbell and goalkeeper Diego Kochen. Pochettino also gave Mathis Albert, Zavier Gozo and Julian Zakrzewski Hall their USMNT debuts in the second half.
The USMNT scored their second goal through Malik Tillman, who scored from a penalty kick. The penalty call was questionable, as Mathis Albert was fouled outside of the box. With no VAR available, the referee stuck with his decision to award the penalty to the USMNT.
Another youngster to score on his USMNT debut was 18-year-old Julian Zakrzewski Hall, who quickly pushed the ball in the net after a fantastic cross by Sebastian Berhalter.
Berhalter scored the fourth goal in the 90th minute, his second goal contribution of the game as a substitute.
Other debutants were Francis Westfield, Brooklyn Raines, Neil Pierre, and Adri Mehmeti, who came on late in the second half. The only player to play the full match was center back Auston Trusty.
Player Ratings for the USMNT vs. Peru (1-10)
- Matt Freese – 6
- Peyton Miller – 6.5
- Auston Trusty – 6
- George Campbell – 6
- Alex Freeman – 6
- Tyler Adams – 7
- Yunus Musah – 6.5
- Giovanni Reyna – 7.5
- Malik Tillman – 8.5(Man of the Match)
- Justin Ellis – 7
- Cavan Sullivan – 7
Subs: Diego Kochen (6.5), Mathis Albert (6.5), Antonee Robinson (7), Sebastian Berhalter (8), Zavier Gozo (6.5), Julian Zakrzewski Hall (7), Francis Westfield (6), Brooklyn Raines (6), Neil Pierre (N/A), Adri Mehmeti (N/A)
