Julian Hall was at home with his mother when he got the news that he would be getting his first call-up to the U.S. men’s national team.
The 18-year-old Red Bull New York star was named Thursday as part of the 26-man roster that will take part in the first USMNT camp and friendlies since the World Cup wrapped up earlier this summer.
Hall is being joined on the national team by teen teammate Adri Mehmeti and local rival Matt Freese, the New York City FC goalkeeper.
But for Hall, the news was the culmination of a stellar campaign that has been one of the driving forces behind the Red Bulls offense this season.
“It was pretty emotional because I’ve grown up watching all senior national teams and watching World Cups,” Hall told The Post. “Of course, seeing the most recent one and how well the national team did. It was an emotional moment for me and my family. It was just a great moment.”
The call-ups to the men’s senior national team are firsts for both Hall and the 17-year-old Mehmeti, though the young duo have been earmarked as players to watch going forward for the USMNT program and Hall even had been a dark horse in the 2026 World Cup roster conversation.
Hall’s 12 goals and three assists in 27 matches across all competitions this season have turned heads around the American soccer sphere, especially as he usurped veteran Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in the starting lineup.
All of it has led to more and more focus on the teenager as a potential star in the making for the USMNT program as it heads toward the 2030 World Cup.
“Obviously I see certain things and I acknowledge them, and I appreciate that people are speaking about me,” Hall said. “But I kind of try to keep my focus here with Red Bull and just doing as much as I can to earn those opportunities, whether it’s with U.S. or Poland or whoever it is.
“It all starts here at Red Bull.”
Hall has not had any conversations with Mauricio Pochettino or his staff about the expectations they have for the upcoming September-October international window, which includes four friendly matches spread out across the United States against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada.
He is hoping to show his “quality” and that he “can make an impact” in the exhibition matches.
Even with Hall headed to the U.S. men’s national team during the upcoming window, the final decision on whether he’ll represent the United States or Poland at the international level is still up in the air.
Hall is eligible to play for Poland through his mother, who was born in Poland, and the Polish Football Association has not been shy about trying to recruit the up-and-coming star.
FIFA rules state that a player is not cap-tied until they play in an official competition, meaning Hall’s options are still open.
“I think it’s definitely not solidified for me,” he said when asked directly about it by The Post. “I appreciate the opportunity and I’m going to do as much as I can to make an impact, but I’m definitely still open to my Polish side. That’s a side that I cherish a lot, especially because my mom is from there. I wouldn’t say it’s solidified.”
