World Cup
The United States has a history of elite World Cup goalkeeping. Now, two keepers with local ties are battling for the No. 1 spot.
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.
June 6, 2026 | 12:00 PM
3 minutes to read
You’re reading Boston.com’s World Cup 2026 newsletter. Sign up for everything you need to know about the tournament, including watch parties and things to do around Massachusetts, tickets and transportation options, and more.
Long before the U.S. men’s soccer team could boast of having top talent in its defense, midfield, or attack, it was goalkeeping that periodically allowed it to compete with the best in the world.
In 1994, when the U.S. upset expectations by making it out of the group stage, it was partly thanks to a number of clutch saves from Tony Meola.
When there was a flurry of American upsets in the 1990s — defeats of Argentina and Brazil in the Copa America and Gold Cup — it was achieved mostly through superhuman goalkeeping performances from Kasey Keller.
And when the U.S. men made their best modern run at a World Cup in 2002 (reaching the quarterfinals), it happened courtesy of a record-setting performance from Brad Friedel.
The lineage continued, with Tim Howard’s heroics in 2010 and 2014. U.S. goalkeepers found successful careers in England at a time when the number of American outfield players in Europe could seemingly be counted on one hand.
Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, and Tim Howard (pictured top to bottom)
In 2026, the circumstances are slightly different. Both of the expected U.S. starters in net (Matt Turner or Matt Freese) are projected to be “solid,” as ex-Revolution head coach Bruce Arena noted in a recent roundtable discussion of former U.S. national team coaches, but neither are seen as world class.
Disappointingly for Turner — a player Arena coached in New England as he won MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2021 — the media faces who could theoretically be his champions have provided underwhelming advocacy. This included an admission in late May from Revolution radio announcer (and former New England forward) Charlie Davies that Freese would probably be the starter, though he did shine a small amount of light on Turner’s quality play in 2026 at the club level.
“I know Matt Turner very well. He’s a solid goalkeeper. I think the way they want to play and build a little bit more [out of the back] that Freese is a better option in that regard,” Arena admitted in the discussion. It was actually Bob Bradley and not Arena who spoke about how Turner’s superior shot-stopping should be a more considered quality when picking a starter.
Turner has proven more effective than Freese in several advanced stats, including “goals prevented.”
Still, Freese — a former Harvard standout — has enjoyed the confidence of current U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino for the last year, and is seen as both technically sound and a capable keeper should the game be decided on penalty kicks.
The most interesting (if unlikely) scenario that Arena projected was an almost unheard of concept at a World Cup: Goalkeeper rotation.
“I would not be surprised if there’s an opportunity where they rotate goalkeepers in this World Cup as well even though that would be highly unusual,” Arena explained.
The final U.S. warmup game before the World Cup begins comes against Germany on June 6. As Turner played in the previous friendly against Senegal, it’s expected that Freese will get the start (perhaps signalling his place in the starting lineup when meaningful games begin).
However it plays out, a goalkeeper with local ties will be starting for the U.S. in its second home World Cup. That is, unless Pochettino picks third choice keeper Chris Brady (and with the mystery surrounding the current depth chart, anything’s possible).
-
Turner or Freese? Brad Friedel has a unique perspective on the U.S. World Cup goalkeeper debate
Trivia
What U.S. men’s player has the greatest number of career World Cup goals?
Hint: He helped defeat the Revolution in MLS Cup 2014 as a member of the L.A. Galaxy.
Keep reading for the answer.
One more thing…
United States goalkeepers have been known to set records at World Cups. In 2002, Brad Friedel became the first keeper in the tournament’s history to save multiple penalty kicks in regular play. And in 2014, Tim Howard made a record 16 saves during the U.S. Round of 16 matchup against Belgium.
Trivia answer: Landon Donovan
Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.
⚽ Get the latest World Cup news
Receive updates on the 2026 FIFA World Cup
