Julian Hall: The New York Teen Chasing His World Cup Dream

HARRISON, NJ — Inside the New York Red Bulls' gleaming new training facility, 18-year-old Julian Hall radiates a quiet confidence. But ask him about a potential call-up to the U.S. men's national team, and the teenager's humility shines through. 'Anyone in the world wouldn't know what to say,' Hall told The Sporting News. 'There were times in my childhood where I would dream of doing that.'

Hall's journey began on the asphalt and grass fields of Manhattan's Upper East Side, around 96th Street and Harlem. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when most fields were shuttered, the then-12-year-old refused to stop playing. 'It was just me, my mom, and my brother there every day,' he recalls. 'I love the game so much, and I'd do almost anything to keep playing.'

That relentless drive paid off. In 2024, at 15 years and 190 days, Hall became the second-youngest player to appear in an MLS match. Earlier this year, he made history as the youngest player ever to score a hat-trick in MLS. Now, with the 2026 World Cup in the past and the USMNT building toward 2030, Hall is on the cusp of a senior call-up, possibly as soon as the September/October international break.

Despite the accolades, Hall remains grounded. 'I just want to kick a ball,' he says with a smile. For a kid from New York City, the dream of representing his country is no longer a distant fantasy — it's a goal within reach. And if his trajectory continues, the world will soon know his name.