On the Pitch
On the Pitch
On the Pitch
On the Pitch
On the Pitch
U.S. Men's National Team Kicks Off New Pochettino Era With Resounding 4-1 Win Against Peru in Fan Appreciation Match
Justin Ellis, Julian Hall Score in Debuts; Malik Tillman Scores Third Goal in Three Matches; Sebastian Berhalter Records Goal and Assist; Eleven Players Earn First Cap; USMNT Travels to St. Louis Next to Face Chile on Sept. 29
ORLANDO, Fla. (Sept. 26, 2026) – In the first international match of a new four-year cycle ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. Men’s National Team leveraged an energetic blend of experience and youth to defeat Peru 4-1 in front of a sold-out crowd at Inter.co Stadium where the USMNT remains undefeated through eight matches.
Eleven players earned their first cap with the senior National Team, including eight teenagers, and each of the USA’s four goals involved a debutant.
Mauricio Pochettino, managing his first match since signing a new contract that keeps him as head coach through 2030, said all 28 players on the roster would have the possibility to play during this four-match slate. Against Peru, three teenagers debuted in the starting XI – defender Peyton Miller, and forwards Cavan Sullivan and Justin Ellis – the latter of the three doing so at the home venue of his current club, Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer.
Ellis was joined by another Orlando City SC connection in today’s starting XI, defender Alex Freeman, who made his 22nd consecutive international appearance. The reigning MLS Young Player of the Year returned to his former home venue for the first time since transferring to Villarreal at the start of the calendar year.
Freeman is one of 12 veterans on the roster who represented the Stars & Stripes at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil. Six of them earned the start for Pochettino against Peru including Tyler Adams who, in his team-high 59th cap, sported the captain’s armband for the first time since the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
It was Orlando City’s 19-year-old who made the first goal happen for the U.S. After he drew a foul, Ellis finished the play with a looping header toward the far post off the free kick taken by midfielder Gio Reyna to open the scoring less than four minutes into his first cap for the senior national team, the fastest goal scored by a debutant in the modern era.
The U.S. had Peru on the ropes in the opening 10 minutes of the match, and the hosts nearly scored another goal from a different debutant. After the U.S. defense cleared a Peru attack, the ball ended up centrally with Malik Tillman, earning his 36th cap. Tillman fed a diagonal ball into space for Freeman on the right wing, and Freeman sprinted on to track it down. The fullback found Sullivan, the fourth-youngest player to debut for the U.S., making a run inside the box. After a couple of quick passes, Sullivan had a chance on goal from close range, but Peru defenders closed in and blocked the 16-year-old's attempt.
After an energetic opening for the U.S., and one minute after winger Jhonny Vidales took Peru’s first shot of the match, Peru scored the equalizer. Captain Yoshimar Yotún delivered quality service into the box for Gianluca Lapadula, and the forward rose to head the cross into goal and level the match for La Bicolor.
The USMNT created another good goal-scoring opportunity in the 20th minute. From his position on the left wing, Miller beat his defender on the dribble toward the end line, then sent a low cross into dangerous territory for the U.S. Tillman delivered a low show on frame with his first touch from inside the box, but Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese made a terrific save to deny the U.S. from pulling one goal ahead.
Peru nearly re-created its opening goal with a swinging ball from the left side and a header on target from the six-yard box at the far post, this time from fullback Oliver Sonne. And this time, goalkeeper Matt Freese, making his 20th appearance in goal for the U.S. since his debut in 2025, collected the attempt for his first save of the day.
The U.S. bookended a first half where they outshot the visitors 8-3 with another exciting 10 minutes, including a moment that saw Sullivan with the ball and an empty goal after Reyna drew the Peruvian goalkeeper well off his line and outside of the 18-yard box. Moments later, the 16-year-old worked with the goal scorer, Ellis, and Tillman on a positively developing play in the USA’s attacking third, but the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder was brought down before he could take a shot on goal.
With teams allowed to make 11 substitutions, Pochettino sent on his first change at the half. Diego Kochen replaced Freese to mark the debut for the Miami-born goalkeeper who plays club soccer for Lyngby Boldklub in Denmark.
In the 61st minute, Pochettino sent on a slew of field players. Midfielder Mathis Albert, forward Julian Hall, midfielder Zavier Gozo, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and fullback Antonee Robinson replaced Reyna, Ellis, Sullivan, Miller, and Yunus Musah who earned his first cap since March 23, 2025, against Canada. Defender Neil Pierre and midfielder Adri Mehmeti later subbed on for George Campbell, who earned his second career cap, and Adams.
Immediately, two debutants who subbed on made an impact. Two minutes into his debut, Mathis made an explosive run, which forced a Peruvian defender to pull him to the turf inside the box. Tillman, who scored two goals for the U.S. during the FIFA World Cup, stepped up to the penalty spot and delivered for his third goal in as many matches.
Moments later, 18-year-old Julian Hall finished off impeccable service from Berhalter to add to the USMNT’s total in the 72nd minute. Berhalter sealed the victory with an absolute golazo from distance in the 90th minute, the third goal in 19 international appearances for the Middlesbrough midfielder.
Berhalter’s superb finish was the exclamation point on top of a strong performance in which the USMNT dominated possession (70%), more than tripled Peru’s shots (16-5) and completed 94% of its passes.
The USMNT will host three more matches during this window. Next up, the team takes on its second straight South American opponent, Chile, on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at Energizer Park in St. Louis, Mo. FIFA World Cup 2026 captain and St. Louis native Tim Ream will be recognized as part of the Impact Match presented by New York Life.
Then, the U.S. faces rival and 2026 World Cup co-host Mexico for a “Duel in the Desert” on Saturday, Oct. 3 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The U.S. concludes the four-match slate against fellow World Cup co-host Canada on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn.
USA – JUSTIN ELLIS (GIO REYNA), 4th minute: Ellis drew a foul on the left side of the pitch that led to a 25-yard free kick for the U.S. Reyna took the kick with his right foot, and Ellis got in front of his mark inside the left side of the box to pop a header toward the far post for the opening goal of the match. USA 1, PER 0
PER – GIANLUCA LAPADULA (YOSHIMAR YOTÚN), 15th minute: From outside the box on the left side of the pitch, Yotún lofted a ball toward the far post. Lapadula sniffed out enough space to rise and knock a header into the opposite corner of the net with a single bounce. USA 1, PER 1
USA – MALIK TILLMAN, 66th minute: Two minutes after subbing into the match, midfielder Mathis Albert drew a foul inside the 18-yard box. The U.S. was awarded a penalty kick, and Tillman delivered confidently with a low and firm strike with his right foot. USA 2, PER 1
USA – JULIAN HALL (SEBASTIAN BERHALTER), 72nd minute: The U.S. recycled a corner kick initially taken by Berhalter from the right comer flag. Robinson, on the left side, returned the ball to Berhalter with a long switch. The midfielder whipped a dangerous cross toward the far post. Hall threw his body at the ball and tucked Berhalter's cross inside the frame for his first international goal. USA 3, PER 1
USA – SEBASTIAN BERHALTER (JULIAN HALL) 90th minute: The USMNT worked the ball up the left side of the pitch with Robinson feeding a weighted pass to Hall. The midfielder slowed down to give his teammate enough time to find some space, then Hall passed to Berhalter just outside the penalty arc. The midfielder struck it cleanly about 25 yards from goal for a phenomenal finish, a firm strike that traveled past the outstretched fingertips of Gallese. USA 4, PER 1
11 players made their USMNT debuts: Mathis Albert, Justin Ellis, Zavier Gozo, Julian Hall, Diego Kochen, Adri Mehmeti, Peyton Miller, Neil Pierre, Brooklyn Raines, Cavan Sullivan, Frankie Westfield.
Cavan Sullivan became the fourth-youngest American to debut for the USMNT at 16 years and 363 days.
The XI against Peru was the youngest Starting XI under Mauricio Pochettino and youngest XI overall for the USMNT since March 24, 2023 vs. Grenada.
Justin Ellis and Julian Hall became the first players since Patrick Agyemang and Matko Miljevic on Jan. 18, 2025, to score on his USMNT debut.
The goal in the fourth minute from Ellis was the fastest in a debut appearance for the USMNT in the modern era.
Hall becomes the first player to score and assist on his debut since Matko Miljevic on Jan. 18, 2025, against Venezuela.
At 18 years and 186 days, Hall becomes the third youngest USMNT player to register an assist in the modern era.
Ellis also becomes the first to score on his debut in his home state since Brandon Vazquez on Jan. 25, 2023.
Malik Tillman scored his third goal of the year, second highest by a USMNT player in 2026.
– U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT –
Match: United States Men’s National Team vs. Peru
Date: September 26, 2026
Competition: International Match
Head Coach: Mauricio Pochettino
Substitutes not used: 12-Matias Cordova, 21-Diego Romero, 2-Oslimg Mora, 3-Alfonso Barco, 7-Adrian Ugarriza, 8-Erick Noriega,14-Rodrigo Vilca,17-Jairo Concha, 25-Matias Zegarra
Head Coach: Mano Menezes
Stats Summary: USA / PER
