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Matt Freese: Heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the United States men's national team faced a goalkeeper decision between two players who share the same first name.
Matt Turner held the starting job at the last World Cup. Matt Freese spent the past year challenging him for it.
When the U.S. opened the tournament against Paraguay, head coach Mauricio Pochettino turned to Freese.
The Americans won that match 4-1, and Freese appears positioned to stay in goal for the remainder of the group stage.
Pochettino's confidence in the 27-year-old grew steadily over the past several months, eventually pushing him ahead of the more experienced Turner.
Who Is Matt Freese?
Freese is the United States' starting goalkeeper at this World Cup. He's 27 years old and hails from Wayne, Pennsylvania.
He currently plays in MLS for New York City FC. Entering the tournament, Freese had made 16 senior appearances for the U.S. national team, a tally that includes the World Cup opener against Paraguay.
Freese's Path Through Harvard
Freese's background stands out in part because of his college career. He played soccer in the Ivy League at Harvard.
He left the university early, though, signing with the Philadelphia Union ahead of the 2019 MLS season.
Breaking into Philadelphia's first team proved difficult. The Union eventually traded him to New York City FC in January 2023, a move that finally gave him a path to regular starts.
Why Matt Turner Lost His Starting Role
Turner, 31, arrived at this World Cup without the form that once made him the clear No. 1. A series of club moves limited his playing time over the past several seasons.
He joined Arsenal for the 2022-23 season but never appeared in a Premier League match for the club.
He then moved to Nottingham Forest, with a loan spell at Crystal Palace along the way, making just 17 total appearances across those two campaigns.
Turner switched clubs again ahead of the 2025-26 season, signing with Lyon in France.
He didn't see the field there before being loaned back to MLS side New England Revolution.
He's seeing regular minutes with the Revolution now, but the stretch of limited game time took a toll on his form, ultimately costing him the USMNT's starting goalkeeper job.
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