The United States The men’s national team’s journey to Wednesday’s Gold Cup semi-final against Panama was uneven, but Matt Turner been anything but. The goalkeeper was the star of the quarter-final triumph on Sunday Canada after saving two penalties in the shootout. In addition to improving his penalty kick record, including a save in the USMNT’s Gold Cup opener against Jamaica, Turner has served as the epitome of consistency as a young team looks to continental silverware.
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Turner’s dependability comes as no surprise as he is one of the few regular first-team players to compete for the United States in this year’s Gold Cup, but his importance to the USMNT serves as a stark reminder of true so many American goalkeepers have to deal with. season: A club situation that could put a dent in his – and that of the team.
Turner is a USMNT standout despite his lack of playing time at Arsenal, and his second season in England seems destined to resemble the first. He only earned the nomination over the team’s first-choice goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in cup competitions with only seven starts during the last campaign. He may play even fewer games as the team trades last season’s Europa League place for a spot in the Champions League.
It makes sense for Turner to look for regular club-level playing time as the USMNT prepares for the 2026 World Cup by hosting next year’s Copa America, which will serve as an all-important check-in on the team’s prospects ahead of 2026. would take a page out of his teammates’ book by watching a transfer — Christian Pulisic moving from Chelsea Unpleasant AC Milan should be official any day now while people like Brenden Aaronson And Richard Pepi have already joined Union Berlin and PSV respectively.
Consistent club play looks crucial to the USMNT’s collective and individual plans to move up a level after impressing as the youngest squad at last year’s World Cup, with hopes of impressing on home soil within three years .
It’s part of a bigger problem
Turner is not the only USMNT goaltender without a starting appearance for his club. The same applies to Ethan Horvath And Zak Steffen.
Horvath served as Turner’s backup at the 2022 World Cup and was the starter ahead Luton town as they were promoted to the Premier League last season, but the club reportedly rejected an option to sign the goalkeeper after his season-long loan. Horvath goes back to the parent club Nottingham Forestbut the Premier League club is eager to sign Dan Henderson on a long-term contract having spent the 2022/23 season there and looking good.
As for Steffen, he was first-choice keeper for Championship side Middlesborough last season, but returned to Manchester City after his loan ended. He is currently recovering from knee surgery last month, which will sideline him for another month or two and paints an uncertain picture about his transfer prospects this summer.
Regardless of how this summer turns out for one of the USMNT’s goaltenders, Turner’s starting spot is likely to remain secure for the foreseeable future. A lack of regular club-level playing time for the national team’s shot stoppers, especially for the first-choice position, could serve as the only blemish during a summer transfer window that has been successful for the USMNT so far.