Cade Cowell graduated from Cesar Chavez Jr. High in June of 2018. On Dec. 18, the Ceres native made his debut with the United States Men’s National Soccer Team.

Cowell and USMNT edged Bosnia & Herzegovina 1-0 during an international friendly match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson.

“To a day that I’ll always remember! What a way to end the year,” 18-year-old Cowell wrote on Instagram. 

Cowell entered the game in the 78th minute.

He logged playing time at forward.

Family and friends watched Cowell reach another major milestone in his soccer career.

“It was an awesome experience,” Cowell’s father Debin said. “We were bursting with pride. We’re just thankful.”

“I texted him after the game,” said Jason Martin, Cowell’s eighth-grade history teacher and track and field coach at Chavez Jr. High. “He got back to me. It was pretty awesome seeing him make his first appearance with USMNT. It looked like he belonged out there. He wasn’t overwhelmed. I’m happy for him and his family. He’s worked hard for everything he’s got. His parents have done a lot for him, too.”

Cowell’s outstanding play during his third season of professional soccer with the San Jose Earthquakes earned him a call-up to the USMNT December 5-19 camp. He collected five goals and six assists, both career highs.

“It’s a good reward for how hard he’s been working this year,” Debin Cowell said. “He’s always been a grinder. He’s going to get better and better. He’s got all the tools to be as good as he wants.”

“My goal is always the same,” Cade Cowell said. “I want to improve from season to season and increase my goal contributions year to year. I feel like I’m just starting to get the hang of professional soccer and I’m becoming more confident as time passes.”

Cowell was among 26 players selected to participate in the USMNT December camp and compete in a friendly match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Dec. 18.

He earned his first-ever call-up to the USMNT in July. He spent several days in Dallas training with U.S. leading up to the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal game versus Jamaica before returning to San Jose.

Cowell has made eight prior appearances for the United States at the U-16, U-17, and U-20 levels.

He collected one assist while representing U.S. at the U-20 Revelations Cup in Mexico this past month. United States accumulated two losses and one tie.

“It was the first time all of the guys have been together in over two years,” Cade Cowell said. “We didn’t do too well but it was good to be out there and build some chemistry. As for myself, I didn’t have my best tournament. I had a nagging injury late in the year that was bothering me still. I will definitely try and have a better showing next time.”

Cowell also recorded career highs in appearances (33), starts (14), minutes (1,664) and shots (42) with the Earthquakes in 2021, earning the club’s Young Player of the Year award and a selection to the 2021 MLS All-Star Team. 

He ranked No. 7 on MLS’s 22 players under the age of 22 list as voted on by an expert panel consisting of MLSsoccer.com analysts, MLS Player Department staff and external media on Oct. 13.

Cowell holds numerous age-specific club records, including youngest player to make an MLS appearance (16 years, 150 days), youngest player to make an MLS start (16 years, 325 days), and youngest player to score an MLS goal (16 years, 325 days).

He became the third-youngest player in MLS history to be voted MLS Player of the Week earlier this year (17 years, 207 days).

The Earthquakes posted a 10-13-11 record en route to a 10th-place finish in the MLS Western Conference standings.

“I want to be a bigger contributor on the team next year and help us to make a playoff run,” Cade Cowell said.

Cowell inked a five-year contract with San Jose at the age of 15 in January of 2019.

He became the youngest player signing in Earthquakes and Bay Area team sports history.

Cowell didn’t make any appearances in MLS play as a rookie.

He totaled one goal and one assist in 18 games during his second season.

Cowell attended Earthquakes games as a fan during his childhood.

“To watch him grow and impact games, it’s fun,” San Jose teammate Tommy Thompson said during an interview with MLS contributor Tom Bogert during the 2021 season. “He’s a special talent. I don’t want to put expectations or any type of limits—it’s important to let young players grow—but I’m excited to see what he can do.”

“I can definitely see him becoming a player that can make that jump to Europe soon,” Earthquakes’ midfielder Carlos Fierro stated.