The United States opened a brand-new World Cup cycle with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Peru, and while the scoreline was impressive, the most important number may have been 11.
Eleven players earned their first-ever cap for the United States Men’s National Team.
Eleven players took another step toward becoming the next generation of American soccer.
And after watching this young, energetic USMNT go up early in the match, then completely take over the second half, I think it is fair to say something significant happened in Orlando:
A new era has begun.
Mauricio Pochettino didn’t shy away from the young players. In his pre-match comments, he made it clear that he believes the teenagers have great skills. Otherwise they wouldn’t be here.
But few perhaps expected so much youth movement, so quickly.
Pochettino showed trust in the new players.
And they responded.
Justin Ellis started the night by scoring just four minutes into his international debut, becoming the fastest debutant to score for the USMNT in the modern era. Cavan Sullivan, at just 16 years old, started alongside him, showed great vision and passing, even if the final goal eluded him. Peyton Miller also made his first appearance, starting at left back.
By the end of the night, 11 Americans had earned their first cap, including eight teenagers. Impressively, every one of the four U.S. goals involved a debutant.
From 1-1 to 4-1
The first half was entertaining, but it wasn’t perfect.
Ellis’ early header from a Gio Reyna free kick gave the United States the dream start, but Peru responded through Gianluca Lapadula in the 15th minute. After George Campbell dribbled himself into getting dispossessed, Peru took advantage of the rare out-of-shape moment for the USMNT to score its only goal. Despite dominating possession for the rest of the half, the US couldn’t find a second goal. At halftime, the teams were tied 1-1, and despite American possession and pressure, the game still felt unsettled.
Then Pochettino started turning the page.
Diego Kochen replaced Matt Freese in goal at halftime, giving the 20-year-old his first senior appearance. Then, around the hour mark, Pochettino unleashed a wave of fresh legs.
Mathis Albert, Julian Hall, Zavier Gozo all entered for their first senior cap, while World Cup veterans Sebastian Berhalter and Antonee ‘Jedi’ Robinson came on at the same time as well.
And very quickly, the game changed.
The energy changed.
The speed changed.
The Americans, which showed trouble breaking through Peru’s low-block earlier in the match, began attacking with an urgency that Peru simply couldn’t match.
Two minutes after entering, Albert exploded down the left and drew a penalty that Malik Tillman converted in the 66th minute. Whether you thought the foul occurred just inside or just outside the box, the important thing is that Albert showed his Bundesliga experience with a smart play that immediately changed the game.
Then came Julian Hall.
The 18-year-old, who is still not 100% tied to the USMNT at the senior level (this friendly match doesn’t cap-tie him), showed energy and desire with relentless runs and smart plays.
In the 72nd minute, Berhalter received an excellent cross-field pass from Antonee Robinson, expertly controlled it, and then delivered a pin-point ball into the box. Hall threw himself at it, beating his defender to the ball, and put it into the back of the net to make it 3-1. Like Ellis, it was his first international goal at the senior level.
Berhalter, who looked lively and determined from the moment he came on, decided he wasn’t finished.
In the 90th minute, Hall returned the favor, dropping the ball back to Berhalter who made a run just outside the penalty area. The Middlesbrough midfielder unleashed an absolute golazo from distance that ripped into the net.
Four goals.
Four different goalscorers.
Two goals from debutants.
And a 4-1 final that was meaningful despite the lower-quality opposition.
I’ve been watching Sebastian Berhalter closely, and Saturday was a statement.
He was everywhere.
His assist to Hall was outstanding, and the goal was an absolute banger.
With the match already effectively decided, Berhalter could have simply played the ball sideways and seen out the final few minutes. Instead, he stepped into space, took the pass from Hall and absolutely hammered the ball past Pedro Gallese.
That’s the kind of goal that gets remembered.
Berhalter finished with a goal and an assist, and after the match it was impossible not to come away thinking that he has cemented his roster spot (starting spot?) in these early stages of the next USMNT cycle.
And Then There’s Diego Kochen
One of the quieter but more encouraging moments came at goalkeeper.
Matt Freese started the match and had a relatively limited first half. While he couldn’t directly be blamed for Peru’s goal, he looked shaky with the ball at this feet, something he clearly had to show was behind him after the Belgium debacle.
Then at halftime, Pochettino handed the gloves to Diego Kochen.
The 20-year-old Barcelona product, who played alongside his good friend Lamin Yamal in Barcelona’s La Macia academy and U-21 teams, immediately showed his quality.
For a young goalkeeper making his senior international debut, Kochen looked remarkably poised.
He didn’t make a spectacular save. But he looked poised. Commanding. Made the right distribution decisions. And never looked uncertain.
He looked completely comfortable.
He communicated. He handled the ball cleanly. He didn’t appear overwhelmed by the occasion. Most importantly, he looked like a goalkeeper who understood that he belonged at this level.
Kochen already looks like the best option at goalkeeper for this USMNT. I still wonder “What if” Barcelona hadn’t recalled him during last year’s U-20 World Cup, where an impressive US team that beat France 3-0 ended up losing to eventual winner Morocco in the Quarterfinals. A Diego Kochen in goal could have altered that outcome. A Diego Kochen in goal for the senior team can alter this team’s future.
The Youth Movement Is Working
Let’s be clear: one 4-1 victory over Peru doesn’t prove that every young American prospect is going to become a star.
But that’s not really the point.
Pochettino is giving these players opportunities, and every single one of them has taken it so far.
Cavan Sullivan looked fearless.
Justin Ellis scored on his debut.
Julian Hall scored on his debut.
Mathis Albert made an immediate impact.
Diego Kochen looked like an upgrade in goal.
And that’s before mentioning Peyton Miller, Zavier Gozo, Neil Pierre, Frankie Westfield, Adri Mehmeti and Brooklyn Raines, all of whom earned their first caps as well.
The USMNT dominated possession 70%-30%, outshot Peru 16-5, and completed 94% of its passes. Those numbers are incredibly impressive for what was essentially a very young team getting some experience at the senior level. They should confidence and quality, and they showed that they belonged.
The Future Is Bright
The 2026 World Cup cycle ended in disappointment.
But the next one has already started with a completely different feeling.
The United States now has a large pool of young players who showed they are ready to contribute.
They’ve been knocking on the door, and Pochettino showed he was willing to open it.
That’s what made Saturday’s match so exciting.
This wasn’t about replacing every veteran overnight. Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman, Gio Reyna, and Jedi Robinson all had solid games, with Adams regaining the captain’s armband. Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Folarin Balogun will eventually return to the fold.
But these veterans may have to work harder for the starting spots.
The 4-1 scoreline was impressive.
The 11 debuts were historic.
But the most important takeaway was the feeling that came afterward.
For the first time since the World Cup, it felt like we had reason for optimism.
We were no longer looking backward, analyzing the mistakes from the Belgium game.
We were looking forward.
The youth movement is working. The future is bright. And after Saturday night’s 4-1 demolition of Peru, there is really only one way to describe what happened in Orlando:
