Nineteen-year-old Justin Ellis scores as USMNT tops Canada 1-0

Nineteen-year-old Justin Ellis scored in the 29th minute as the United States defeated Canada 1-0 on Oct. 6, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. Ellis, of Orlando City, finished a give-and-go between Alex Freeman and Malik Tillman by redirecting Freeman's cross or shot. Minutes earlier Stephen Eustaquio had fouled him hard; Ellis was nearly substituted, returned limping, and scored anyway—his second goal in three U.S. appearances after also scoring against Peru on Sept. 26. The result was the Americans' fourth straight win in the window after Peru 4-1, Chile 4-2 and Mexico 3-0. Brian Schwake made three saves in his first U.S. start. The Olympian timed his fingertip tip of Luc de Fougerolles's shot off the crossbar; the Boston Globe and RTL placed it in the 63rd. Promise David later shot wide for Canada. A foul on Ellis outside the box brought shoving, with Pochettino reacting on the sideline. Pochettino gave 13 players their U.S. debuts; Cole Campbell, 20, was the last. Mathis Albert set the youngest U.S. goalscorer mark at 17 years, 131 days against Chile before Cavan Sullivan broke it four days later against Mexico. Pochettino said the camp was perfect and that if the mentality holds, everything is possible.