SOCCER: Matt Turner could go from '94 World Cup baby to US starter in '26

IRVINE, Calif. — Whether he starts the United States men’s national team’s tournament opener on Friday against Paraguay or not, goalkeeper Matt Turner represents what the 2026 FIFA World Cup means for the host nation.

Born on June 24, 1994, during the last World Cup held in the United States, Turner’s life has paralleled the highs and lows of the U.S. men’s national team. That summer, on June 22 at the Rose Bowl, the Americans stunned tournament favorite Colombia 2-1. Four days later, they fell 1-0 to Romania — a snapshot of the team’s long-standing inconsistency on the global stage.

For decades, the United States Men's National Soccer Team has alternated between optimism and disappointment, rarely sustaining deep tournament runs. Turner’s international career reflects a similar arc.

In the 2022 World Cup, then the longtime starter for Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution, Turner became the first U.S. goalkeeper since 1930 to record two clean sheets in a single tournament. However, under head coach Mauricio Pochettino in 2025, Matt Freese earned increased opportunities, limiting Turner’s appearances at the international level.

With training camps ahead of the group stage doubling as competition for the starting role, Turner and Freese remain in direct contention.

“There’s a healthy, mutual respect there,” Turner said of his relationship with Freese. “Whatever the coach ultimately decides, we owe it to each other to respect that decision and support each other all the way to the end.”

Midfielder Cristian Roldan echoed that sentiment.

“Freese has popped up over the last year and a half, and it’s been really pleasing to watch,” Roldan said. “But Matt has been incredibly supportive of Freese and the team, putting the team first.”

Still, opportunities for Turner at the international level are becoming more limited. He turns 32 a day before the United States concludes its group stage on June 25 against Turkey. Freese is 27, while goalkeeper Chris Brady is 22, highlighting a changing of the guard in the position group.

Turner acknowledged that “the door is always cracked,” a reflection of both his persistence and his long journey from an overlooked college player at Fairfield University to a World Cup contributor.

“I wasn’t dreaming of playing in a World Cup when I was in college,” Turner said. “What fueled me was always my love and passion for the game, and my innate ability to believe in myself when others didn’t.”

That belief mirrors the broader ambitions of the USMNT, which has not reached a World Cup quarterfinal since 2002 — its only appearance in the last eight in the modern era.

Home Sweet Home

Playing a World Cup on home soil for the first time in 32 years adds both pressure and excitement for the U.S. squad, Roldan said. Still, he believes the expectations are fueling positive momentum.

For Roldan, Friday’s opener carries a literal home advantage. A native of Artesia, California, he grew up just miles from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and the team’s training base in Irvine’s Great Park.

“Being able to stay in my backyard is special to me,” Roldan said. “When you’re growing up, you dream about moments like this. I’m soaking it all in.”

Between group-stage matches at SoFi Stadium against Paraguay and Turkey, Roldan will also return to Seattle for the June 19 match against Australia at Lumen Field, where he has played professionally for more than a decade with the Seattle Sounders.

“I’ve made really good memories in these two cities,” Roldan said.

And over the next three weeks, he hopes to create a few more — this time on the world’s biggest stage. -Kyle Kensing, Field Level Media/Reuters