Cavan Sullivan Opens MLS Account in Style
MLS youth continues to make waves in 2026, and Wednesday night's fixtures delivered another milestone moment as 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan found the back of the net for the first time in the league.
Sullivan, who is bound for Manchester City once he turns 18, became the eighth-youngest player to score in an MLS regular-season match.
Despite limited minutes this season, the youngster entered in the 44th minute and instantly made an impact, scoring in the 75th minute against Orlando City'sCanada's likely World Cup starting goalkeeper, Maxime Crépeau.
He created five chances and had two shots in addition to his goal, but it wasn't enough as the Union fell 4–3 to Orlando.
Previously, Sullivan had scored three goals and two assists in Concacaf Champions Cup action, but had struggled for consistent playing time under manager Bradley Carnell. Wednesday's performance could mark a turning point.
Julian Hall Sets MLS Hat-Trick Record
While Sullivan has garnered significant attention with his Manchester City agreement, Julian Hall has been the top young star in MLS this season.
The 18-year-old stunned in Red Bull New York's 3–2 win over the Columbus Crew, scoring a first-half hat-trick.
A Polish-American dual national, Hall has recorded 12 goals and 3 assists in 15 games across all competitions this season. In MLS play, he's up to nine goals, tied for third in the Golden Boot race.
His hat-trick made him the youngest player at 18 years and 50 days to score an MLS hat-trick, eclipsing U.S. men's national team striker Ricardo Pepi's previous record of 18 years and 196 days.
Hall has been actively recruited by Poland, with Polish Football Federation president Cezary Kulesza meeting with Hall's mother in New York in April to discuss his potential future with the Polish national team.
Neither youngster is likely to feature at the upcoming World Cup, given the competitive nature of the USMNT and Poland's failure to qualify, but both could be key pieces moving forward in the lead-up to the 2030 tournament.