USMNT’s Matt Turner continues his World Cup push to start in goal

IRVINE, Calif. – No two World Cups are the same, even for those who have experienced them before; Matt Turner an important example. As the US men’s national team approaches its opening game of the tournament on Friday against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, however, Turner is still striving to be exactly where he was nearly four years ago — listed as the team’s starting goaltender.

“Considering that I didn’t play a ton last year in the national team, of course for me that makes me feel like the door is always cracked,” said Turner on Tuesday. “Everyone has a chance.”

This time last year, the long-time US shooter gave way to a new player Matt Freesewho won his first title only in June 2025. Freese was the head coach Mauricio Pochettino has picked since – he has only been on the bench in three of the last 18 games since his debut and is likely to start on Friday. There is an asterisk next to the supposed starting point, however. Turner has been in better form than Freese during the 2026 MLS season so far. Even the third-ranked US goalkeeper Chris Brady has done better than Freese in some ways this season in MLS, although the 22-year-old with one cap to his name is unlikely to see the field during the World Cup.

USMNT World Cup goalkeepers for the 2026 MLS season

It gave Turner a glimmer of hope, even when things weren’t going his way last year with the national team. He has just three games under his belt since last June, conceding nine goals in a combined 4-0 thrashing of Switzerland last year and a 5-2 loss to Belgium in March. He wasn’t a big contender in that defeat three months ago but it seemed like he missed out on a chance to get back into the lineup. However, he acquitted himself in the first half when they beat Senegal 3-2 last month. The visitors pulled one back before half-time but that goal went away Sadio Mane it came after Turner made several key saves and other interventions, restoring confidence in the fact that he can take his strong club form to the national team.

“It’s not clear,” he said about who starts against Paraguay. “But I think my message to myself is to stay ready. Obviously I didn’t play in the last game. I started the first game [of this window] so for me, it’s about training very well. Keep fighting and the decision will come out on Friday.”

The road to this World Cup is very different for Turner, who started in 2022 although he is sitting a lot. Arsenalon the bench and has no burn Qatar. That was the case during the last few years In Englandbouncing around different clubs in an unsuccessful attempt to get playing time. Turner joined the New England Revolution last August, returning to the team where he first entered the field, a position that gave him the confidence to stay calm in these final days before the start of the World Cup.

“I think playing consistent minutes at the level I was playing helped me a lot in that, and staying fit,” he said. “Unlike in the past when I used to spend minutes at the team level and then you the show When you get to the national team, you are not that sharp when your number is called, so obviously it was very nice to play regularly, he was an important player in my team as well. Yes, it just helps me with my preparation every week, every day and when my number is called, everyone knows that I will be ready. “

The goalkeeping battle has underlined the sense of competition Pochettino hopes to instill in the squad since taking over the job in the autumn of 2024, something Turner championed on Tuesday.

“I think it’s a good thing,” he said. “I think he’s made a list of guys who accept that and it creates competition in practice every week. Just because one 11 starts one game doesn’t mean the next 11 will be the same. Everyone knows they’re looked at the same way in the coach’s eyes and if they deserve and deserve a chance with this coach, they’ll get it.”

Ultimately Turner feels Pochettino and his staff will make the right call, preparing for whatever answer he is given in that all-important team meeting at the end of the week.

“I think the coach will always choose a guy who plays well and will make the right decision for the team,” said Turner. “Whatever role I have, I’ll be ready to do it to the best of my ability.”

A fully fit team practices for the first time

The USMNT may be almost two weeks into World Cup training camp but Tuesday’s session marked a first – all 26 players trained together as a team, fitness issues now behind them.

Linebacker Chris Richards participated in his first practice session on Monday, nearly a month after injuring his ankle, and Tyler Adams rejoined the team on Tuesday after missing the previous day’s practice by carrying the load. Richards has been inactive since camp opened on May 27 at the US Soccer National Training Center in Fayetteville, Ga. but Adams missed two sessions as the staff worked to unload him, and Brenden Aaronson missed one day of practice for his wedding in New Jersey on May 29.

It means all 26 players at the World Cup are likely to be present for Friday’s match against Paraguay, which only adds to the sense of competition between the squad – and strengthens the options available to Pochettino when it comes time to make team selections.

“I think we will have to play differently and I think if we can change the way we play in midfield,” the midfielder said. Cristian Roldan said. “It will be very important for Malik [Tillman] being in there against Sebastian [Berhalter]me or weston [McKennie]. Malik is an actor. When you play against teams that play a lot in the lower block, you have a smart guy there, it gives you a good chance to score more goals and in the end, we have to be strong to defend. We have to make sure that Tyler speaks well but it helps the team to be able to attack against the defense or stay on the ground. “

Roldan said each player brings his own unique qualities, allowing Pochettino to set up his team in the fluid tactical style he prefers.

“It seems really funny to say but to be a dog there, doesn’t it?” Roldan said about his personal qualities. “I think in the end, that’s what got me here, intensity, making sure I’m quick, getting into things, making sure I’m energizing our team completely so my role can change. Obviously, if I’m not in the starting line-up, how do I help the guys off the field or even on the break but I think the intensity is what made me do that.”

The uncertainty of Friday’s starters did not deter the team, the American team riding two weeks of celebrations and strong games against in Senegal again In Germanyeven in defeat.

“Yes, we won’t know exactly who is playing until he gives the team a meeting but he just tries to keep the right habits every day in training, competing with each other but it’s a really healthy environment,” said midfielder Gio Reyna. “Yes, everyone wants to play but everyone understands how this game works. Whatever it is, I’m sure we’re all willing to put our egos aside and do whatever it takes to help the team.”

However, as it stands, it seems that there is still a chance for many members of the 26-man squad to play a big role in this World Cup.

“I think whoever’s back there, it doesn’t matter,” Roldan said. “To be honest, the whole starting lineup is kind of a catch. We don’t know who’s starting at any position and things can change from game to game so it’s important for Matt Turner, important for Matt Freese to be ready but it’s more important for all the 26 guys to be ready ’cause injuries happen, things happen, smart things happen where we might have to change a little bit so I think it’s very important that we’re all on our feet and we have to be ready to go.”