USA 4-1 Peru: Young USMNT Stars Shine in First Match After 2026 World Cup

The United States began a new chapter on the road to the 2030 FIFA World Cup with an impressive 4-1 victory over Peru at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando.

The match was the Americans’ first outing since the 2026 World Cup and gave Mauricio Pochettino an opportunity to introduce several young players to the senior national team. The U.S. squad featured a mixture of experienced internationals and emerging talents, with several players making their debuts. 

Justin Ellis makes dream start

The United States needed only four minutes to take the lead.

Justin Ellis, playing in his home stadium with Orlando City, opened the scoring on his international debut. The 19-year-old connected with a delivery from Gio Reyna and headed the ball into the net, giving the hosts an early advantage. 

Peru responded before halftime, with Gianluca Lapadula heading home to bring the visitors level.

The first half therefore ended with the two teams tied, but the United States produced a much stronger second-half performance.

Tillman restores USA’s lead

The decisive moment arrived in the 66th minute.

After Zavier Gozo was brought down inside the penalty area, the United States were awarded a penalty. Malik Tillman stepped up and converted from the spot to put the hosts back in front.

The goal gave the Americans renewed momentum as Pochettino continued to introduce his younger players.

Julian Hall scores on his debut

The U.S. extended its advantage only a few minutes later.

Julian Hall, another player making his senior international debut, found the net to make it 3-1. The teenager finished from close range after a dangerous attacking move, adding another memorable moment to an evening dominated by the next generation of American talent. 

Sebastian Berhalter then completed the scoring late in the match as the United States finished with four goals.

The final score was USA 4-1 Peru. 

Cavan Sullivan makes history

One of the biggest talking points before kickoff was Cavan Sullivan.

The Philadelphia Union teenager, who was still 16 years old, became the youngest U.S. men’s national-team player to start a match in more than two decades. He was among a large group of young players given an opportunity during the opening match of the new World Cup cycle. 

The September squad was deliberately built around a combination of established internationals and prospects. U.S. Soccer said the 28-player group had an average age of just over 22 years, significantly younger than the squad selected for the 2026 World Cup. 

Pochettino begins the road to 2030

The victory represents the first match of a new USMNT cycle under Pochettino, who has agreed to remain in charge through the 2030 World Cup. 

The United States now has three more matches scheduled during this international window. The team will face Chile on September 29, followed by Mexico on October 3 and Canada on October 6. 

For Pochettino, the Peru match provided an early opportunity to assess a younger group while continuing to integrate players with previous World Cup experience.

For the emerging stars, meanwhile, it was a chance to make an immediate impression at international level.

Match information

International Friendly
USA 4-1 Peru
Venue: Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando
Date: September 26, 2026

Goals:

• 🇺🇸 Justin Ellis — 4’
• 🇵🇪 Gianluca Lapadula — 15’
• 🇺🇸 Malik Tillman — 66’ (pen.)
• 🇺🇸 Julian Hall — 72’
• 🇺🇸 Sebastian Berhalter — 90’