Add The New York Post on Google FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — From family watch parties for World Cup games to a U.S. national team call-up in the span of 10 weeks, Neil Pierre is moving through milestones at warp speed.
It takes just one look at the 18-year-old center back, who stands 6-foot-6 ½ but jokes that he rounds up to 6-foot-7, to understand why Mauricio Pochettino included him among the group of youngsters called in for the two-week, four-game camp that starts here at U.S. Soccer’s training center outside Atlanta.
Pierre has a physical frame built for winning duels, and his rapid development over the past six months suggests he’ll reach his potential sooner rather than later.
“When you talk about Neil Pierre, we saw that, of course, some good things, some things need to improve, but when you compare him with a 30-year-old or 26- or 28-year-old center back [who] maybe is playing in another country or maybe in MLS, I don’t see the difference because one has more experience than another,” Pochettino said. “Both can make a mistake, both can be good. That is why this type of potential, when a player like this guy is playing in MLS, how can we contribute in their career?”
To recap: Pierre signed a first-team deal with the Philadelphia Union just over 18 months ago, but played mostly for their second team in MLS Next Pro until a loan move to Danish side Lyngby in January.
He regularly cracked the starting 11 for a team that earned promotion to the Danish Superliga last season, topping in the table in the country’s second division — interestingly, goalkeeper Diego Kochen, who was also called up for the first time this camp, is on loan at the same club — and since returning stateside, Pierre has been a force.
“I would say that’s a very, very big part of my success this year,” Pierre said of his time on loan. “Being away from home for the first time, seeing a whole different world. It was a good thing. That was like, I would say, my college experience away from college. I think that also translates on the field.”
On a Union team that hasn’t lost in MLS since the league returned from its World Cup hiatus, when it underwent a coaching change, Pierre is a fixture in the lineup and has scored four goals.
Notable as well is the Union’s history of developing national team players, particularly at center back, as Auston Trusty and Mark McKenzie both started their careers in Philadelphia, as did midfielder Brenden Aaronson, before all three earned moves to Europe.
Neil Pierre heads a ball over Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting during the second half of the Philadelphia Union’s win over the Red Bulls on Aug. 29, 2026 at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images “Obviously strong. Big, big force,” Miles Robinson said of Pierre. “He’s calm on the ball, technical. Just to see him at 18 years old in this game, in this camp, proving himself day by day is something I definitely admire and appreciate.”
As for the U.S. national team, Pierre is one of the most intriguing prospects at this camp, not only because of his acumen, but because center back has been a long-standing area of need. Tim Ream, who captained the side at the World Cup, will also turn 39 next month and won’t factor into the discussion for 2030.
Pierre, who will be 22 when the tournament hits Spain, Portugal and Morocco, ought to. At this early stage, though, there are other things to consider first, such as the likelihood he can be part of the U-23 squad at the Los Angeles Olympics, where contending for gold is a key priority for the federation.
Neil Pierre dribbles the ball up field during the Union’s win over the RedBulls on Aug. 29, 2026. Smits/Sopa Images/Shutterstock Or, as soon as right now, ingratiating himself with Pochettino and earning his first senior cap.
“Obviously a little nervous coming in here,” Pierre said. “These [are] players I’ve watched coming up a little bit and in the World Cup. I think the expectation they gave me was enjoy, compete and obviously it’s an honor to represent the crest.”
“It’s also a fact that at the end of the day everyone’s here to compete,” Pierre said. “So [the veterans] tell me, good to meet you, but you better show it on the field. They’re telling me just to push through and do what you gotta do. That’s what I get from them.”
