Matt Turner is the experienced goalkeeper in the USMNT squad, a proven shot-stopper who has been the United States’ number one for years. He made his name at the New England Revolution before earning a Premier League move to Arsenal, and even with Matt Freese getting the nod in the opener, Turner’s pedigree keeps him central to head coach Mauricio Pochettino‘s plans.
From New England to the Premier League
Turner’s rise is one of the great American goalkeeping stories. Undrafted out of college, he developed into one of MLS’s best with the New England Revolution, and his form earned a move to Arsenal in the Premier League. Spells at Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace followed as he chased regular minutes in England. The table below covers his main club spells in our database.
| Club | Starts | Saves | Clean sheets | Goals conceded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Revolution | 110 | 399 | 24 | 144 |
| Arsenal | 7 | 15 | 4 | 4 |
| Nottingham Forest | 21 | 69 | 3 | 31 |
| Crystal Palace | 4 | 17 | 2 | 2 |
What the numbers say
Turner’s New England record is the body of work of an elite shot-stopper: 399 saves and 24 clean sheets across 110 starts, plus three penalty saves, the profile of a keeper who wins his team points. Shot-stopping is his calling card, and he has shown at Premier League level and for the United States that he can produce the big save on the big occasion. That experience is hard to replace in a tournament.
Matt Turner and the USMNT
For the United States, Turner is either the number one or the most experienced backup in the world, depending on how the tournament unfolds. Freese started the opener, but Turner’s years as the U.S. first choice and his big-game record mean he is one selection call away from the gloves. Whatever his role, his presence steadies a young squad. See where he fits in our USMNT roster guide.
USA 4-1 Paraguay and what is next
Turner was on the bench for the opener as Matt Freese kept goal in the 4-1 win over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, a sign of how competitive the goalkeeping picture has become. Read the full USA vs Paraguay player ratings. Planning to go? See our World Cup 2026 tickets guide. For the bigger picture, see our World Cup 2026 hub and the latest World Cup 2026 winner odds, with more at U.S. Soccer. Must be 21+ and present in a state where betting is legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Turner’s shot-stopping by the numbers
The save count only tells half the story. At the New England Revolution, Turner logged 259 of his saves from inside the box and another 140 from outside it, the spread of a keeper trusted on both close-range reactions and long-range efforts, and he piled up 214 diving saves and parries along the way. His command of the area stands out too: he claimed 84 high crosses from 91 high-claim attempts, a success rate north of 92 percent.
Turner is also comfortable acting as a sweeper. He completed 38 of his 43 sweeper actions in New England (around 88 percent), stepping off his line to snuff out danger. Add three penalty saves from 11 spot-kicks faced, and the underlying profile is of a goalkeeper who does far more than simply stop shots.
Matt Turner in the USA’s run to the Round of 32
Turner came in for the dead-rubber Turkey game but could not prevent a 3-2 defeat with the group already won; Matt Freese had kept goal in the wins.
Matt Turner is an American goalkeeper and one of the most experienced players in the USMNT squad. He made his name at the New England Revolution before a move to the Premier League with Arsenal, and has long been a U.S. number one.
Turner broke through at the New England Revolution in MLS, then moved to Arsenal in the Premier League, with subsequent spells at Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace in England.
Turner has been the United States’ first-choice goalkeeper for years, but Matt Freese started the World Cup 2026 opener, so the number one shirt is a live battle heading deeper into the tournament.
No. Turner was on the bench for the 4-1 win over Paraguay, with Matt Freese getting the start in goal, but his experience makes him a key option for the United States.