2026 has been a whirlwind of a year for Neil Pierre and it doesn’t look to be stopping anytime soon. Pierre is one of 13 players seeking their U.S. Men’s National Team debuts this month as the squad gears up for their first-post FIFA World Cup matches. The 18-year-old centerback previously helped Danish side Lyngby earn promotion back to the Superliagen before has helping lead the turnaround for the Philadelphia Union, who remain unbeaten in MLS play since Ryan Richter was named interim head coach last May. After an impressive loan spell in Denmark and an impactful return in Philadelphia, Pierre is now in Atlanta as the USMNT prepares to meet Peru on Saturday in the first or four home friendlies over the next two weeks. Pierre may not be with Lyngby in the Superliagen this season but credited his time there for helping him improve as a player.“I would say that’s a very, very big part of my success this year,” Pierre said in a conference call about his loan spell in Denmark. “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.”Pierre has made quite the impact with the Union over the past few months. The 6-foot-7 defender has started in 11 of his 14 appearances under Richter, scoring four goals and helping the Union get back into the current playoff places in the Eastern Conference. Although he’s 18, Pierre has shown strength and leadership in the Union defense, stepping into a unit that was seeking stability after a rough first half of the season. Pierre’s trying to keep the same energy with the USMNT that he’s shown with the Union although it is a different level of intensity. “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 to 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 added. “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.”Pierre is one of five centerbacks called into the current camp and to no surprise, he is also the youngest. Chris Richards headlines the group after a positive World Cup run while Miles Robinson, Auston Trusty, and George Campbell will also be fighting for minutes over the next two weeks.Pierre may not have logged a competitive minute yet with the USMNT but he’s already received major praise and admiration from the 29-year-old Robinson. “Obviously strong. Big, big force,” Miles Robinson said about Pierre. “He’s calm on the ball, technical and 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.”