World Cup
Friedel represented the U.S. at three World Cups. He later gave 2026 hopefuls Matt Turner and Matt Freese opportunities early in their respective careers as a coach.
Matt Turner during a U.S. friendly against Belgium in March. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
There’s uncertainty at the goalkeeper position for the United States men’s soccer team ahead of the World Cup, as head coach Mauricio Pochettino has fluctuated among options.
Matt Freese of New York City FC has been the preferred choice since making his debut in a 2-1 loss to Turkey on June 7, 2025.
But Matt Turner, the starter at the 2022 World Cup, re-entered the conversation after stellar performances with the New England Revolution. The 31-year-old earned his first international cap since the summer of 2025 in a 5-2 loss to Belgium on March 28, 2026.
Three days later, Freese was in goal when the United States lost 2-0 to Portugal.
Turner got the nod on Sunday, making two saves during his 45 minutes in a 3-2 win over Senegal. Twenty two year-old Chris Brady of the Chicago Fire came on at halftime, earning his first senior cap. Both goalkeepers allowed a goal while Freese remained on the bench.
The volatility could mean nothing. National team observers will know more on Saturday when the USMNT plays Germany in their last friendly before the World Cup. What we know now is that Pochettino takes a very analytical approach when determining his starting lineups.
“The way Toni Jiménez, the goalkeeping coach, works and the way Mauricio works is you earn your positions each training session,” Brad Friedel, who was coached by Pochettino at Tottenham, told Boston.com in a recent interview.
Friedel is uniquely positioned to assess the current pool of goalkeepers. Not only did he accumulate 82 caps and represent the United States at three World Cups, but he also gave Turner his first MLS start while coach of the Revolution, and invited Freese to his first international camp as coach of the U.S. U-19s.
Friedel noted there are a lot of similarities between the two players, calling them “both incredibly nice human beings” who “work exceptionally hard.”
He gives Freese the advantage in dealing with crosses and Turner the edge in shot-stopping. They have similar abilities with their feet.
Advanced analytics from Sofascore lean toward Turner. While both goalkeepers have three clean sheets in Major League Soccer, Turner has made ten more saves (60 to 50) and prevented more goals (6.1 to 0.5).
Unlike other positions, there can be only one goalkeeper, and that person will likely stay in the net throughout the World Cup, barring an unforeseen circumstance. This creates a natural rivalry.
Friedel recalled his own battles with Tony Meola, Juergen Sommer, and Kasey Keller. The former goalkeeper, who made more than 450 appearances in the English Premier League, remembers the constant pressure to be at his best.
“I hated being a number two,” Friedel said. “I tried to be as professional as I could if it ever happened, but I hated it.”
USA goalkeeper Brad Friedel acknowledges the applause of fans at the end of USA vs. Poland game at the 2002 World Cup in the Daejeon World Cup Stadium, South Korea. – AP Photo/Amy Sancetta
There isn’t expected to be controversy regardless of who Pochettino names as the starter, as Turner and Freese are widely lauded for their professionalism.
Both players had to earn their spots on the senior national team after receiving little attention in the youth setup. Their stories highlight a shortcoming once held within the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy.
“For about a decade, maybe a touch longer, especially when the U.S. Developmental Academy started, I think they got it wrong with the development of goalkeepers,” Friedel said.
“I think they got it wrong with the development of goalkeepers. I think they emphasized too much playing out of the back and the distance between the back four and the goalkeeper at really young ages, when there are two characteristics that if you don’t have, you can’t be a top-level goalkeeper: Being athletic and being brave.”
Freese first caught Friedel’s attention during a scouting trip to Lakewood Ranch in Florida in 2016, prompting a discussion with Chris Albright, the then-technical director of the Philadelphia Union.
“If there’s anyone that can be locked in enough to get that done, it’s you.”
Matt Freese delivers ‘The Call’ to his high school soccer coach, David Knox.#USMNT x @ATT pic.twitter.com/g5bv3qCsar
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) May 31, 2026
“He said no national team coach has really talked about him because they all say that he’s not good enough with his feet,” Friedel explained.
While certainly an area in need of refinement, Friedel placed greater value on Freese’s work rate, physique, and athleticism, offering him his first invitation to a U.S. youth national team camp.
“I got pushback from the U.S. Federation that there were other goalkeepers who could have been better,” Friedel said. “I disagreed, and I called him in.”
Friedel also played a role in Turner’s career, giving him his first MLS start in 2018.
Turner didn’t start playing competitive soccer until he was 16, requiring a steep learning curve to land a walk-on spot at Fairfield University and professional contracts with the Revolution, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, and Crystal Palace.
While often criticized for his footwork, he’s proven to be an elite shot-stopper.
“He showed us something within the first couple of days,” Friedel said. “And one of the things that I noticed was just that his athleticism was tremendous.”
Turner impressed for the Revs in 2018 and 2019, prompting Friedel to contact then-USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter about the possibility of an international call-up. It didn’t happen, in part because of a crowded field that included Brad Guzan, Zack Steffen, and Ethan Horvath.
Eventually, Turner took control of the national team spot after making his first appearance in 2021.
Breaking down Matt Turner’s pregame rituals, favorite place he’s traveled to and more.
Get to know @headdturnerr in 26 Stories to ’26 presented by @Sensodyne_US! pic.twitter.com/XRKtZCizja
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) June 3, 2026
Turner has been capped 54 times despite never playing for a youth national team, though he did have a late start to soccer. Freese collected a few appearances with the U-23 team and has since made 14 first-team starts.
They aren’t the only goalkeepers who have been overlooked.
“When I would go around to Lakewood Ranch, or I’d go out and watch developmental academy games, and I would see a goalkeeper whose maximum height is going to end up being 5-foot-10, but they have him playing because he’s good with his feet,” Friedel said.
“I find that to be a waste of money and a waste of resources because he’s never going to be a number one goalkeeper at a top professional league.”
Freese and Turner — along with Brady — are now jostling to be the starters at the World Cup. All three carry the qualities that Friedel values most: athleticism and bravery.
“Let’s see who Mauricio picks,” Friedel said. “May the best man win. And whoever he picks, I hope they have a remarkable World Cup, and they become their own star inside the country.”
⚽ Get the latest World Cup news
Receive updates on the 2026 FIFA World Cup
