Bangladesh-origin, US-born footballers Declan Sullivan and Ronan Sullivan have been included in Bangladesh’s 34-member preliminary squad for the upcoming SAFF U-20 Championship 2026, scheduled to be held in Maldives later this month.
Declan and Ronan are brothers of Quinn Sullivan and Cavan Sullivan, well-known in the US football scene for playing with MLS side Philadelphia Union. The Sullivan siblings were also part of Philadelphia Union’s youth academy. Declan later moved to FC Delco Academy, according to Transfermarkt, while Ronan remained with Philadelphia Union.
Both Declan and Ronan are now 18 years old. Ronan plays as a center-forward, while Declan operates in defense as a right-back.
Their grandmother hailed from Dhaka and went on to pursue a PhD at the University of Pennsylvania. She married the university’s renowned German professor Klaus Krippendorff.
The residential training camp for the Bangladesh U-20 team began in Dhaka on Saturday, with 28 footballers joining the squad. The first phase of preparations started on January 30 at Shams Ul Huda Academy under the supervision of coach Golam Rabbani Choton.
English coach Mark Cox has recently taken charge as head coach for the tournament, which will be held in Maldives from March 23 to April 4.
“The goal is to win the SAFF Championship in Maldives next week. I don’t do anything unless I believe I can give my best, but we need the players, coaches, physio, analyst — the whole team — working together to achieve that goal,” Cox said.
The Bangladesh team is scheduled to depart for Maldives on March 21.