Matt Turner has returned to the scene of the sublime. After making a name for himself at the New England Revolution, the USA goalkeeper recently secured a comeback to the Major League Soccer (MLS) club to try to ensure he retains the No1 jersey at the FIFA World Cup 26™.
Thanks to his standout performances with the Revolution in 2020 and 2021, Turner earned a high-profile move to Premier League giants Arsenal. But after struggling for playing time at the Gunners, he moved to Nottingham Forest and then Crystal Palace, where he also had limited opportunities to showcase his skills.
Now, with less than a year to the World Cup — and having lost the starting goalkeeper’s spot to New York City FC’s Matt Freese at the Concacaf Gold Cup — the 31-year-old has completed a season-long loan move from French outfit Lyon to the Revolution in order to ensure that he not only makes Mauricio Pochettino’s squad for the global showpiece but makes a strong case to be the No1.
Turner spoke to FIFA about his “overwhelming” return to New England, achieving his dream of playing in the Premier League, his experiences at Qatar 2022 and the determination to play meaningful minutes for USA at next year’s tournament on home soil.
Matt Turner: It’s been great so far. Obviously my family and I are really comfortable here. My wife is from Boston, we met here and we have a lot of roots and friends and family nearby. This allows us to rely a little more on the people closest to us. We were a little isolated in Europe, so I have really put everything into performing to the best of my ability over this next year to give myself the best chance to not just be a part of the team, but play meaningful minutes at the World Cup because that’s the ultimate goal.
Being back in New England, the people, the crowds… I’ve been received with so much love. It’s almost been a little overwhelming for us. If you are loyal to the city of Boston, they are loyal to you. It’s great to be back in that environment where I am feeling that love consistently and it’s helped me start off pretty strongly and hopefully it carries on and continues that way.
This is the club that gave me the chance when no one else really did so I feel very strongly about the club and the opportunity that (owner Robert) Kraft has provided to me and my family. When I made the transfer from here to Arsenal, it was reluctant. I was one of the better players on the team and the team was having a lot of success but they knew it was a life goal of mine to play over in Europe.
There are so many different reasons but I know I am going to come here and work with a world-class goalkeeping coach in Kevin Hitchcock and play for a club that I feel very strongly and passionate about wanting to do well. It ticks so many boxes for us on the playing and personal side and now that things are taking shape, it feels like the right move.
The big thing about the gaffer is that he wants his players to be happy. In the perfect sense of the word, he wants every player playing at the highest level possible and they are maximizing their potential. He sees people’s journey as something that can go up and down and recognizes where people are stuck. He is always there for us and that is a hugely comforting feeling to know that you have a coach that is there through thick and thin.
I’ve had some good times since he’s been in and some not-so good times and he’s always stood by me and showed me his confidence. He believes and trusts in me and that has allowed me to feel like I have the freedom to make decisions that are best for me and my family, while also putting me in a better playing situation so that I can showcase to him the best of what I have to offer on the pitch and off the pitch. I love to run things by all the stakeholders but the over-arching thing is playing at a… level that you can showcase your talent and ability, and get the feelings of being relied upon as well.
Overall, I enjoyed my time in England, I had some successes, especially that first season in Arsenal. Playing and training with Aaron Ramsdale every day was amazing. Arsenal were so close to winning the Premier League and I got such a taste of what was necessary to success in the Premier League on a consistent basis because I was working with one of the best managers in football right now [Mikel Arteta]. That was an experience I hold near and dear to my heart.
Obviously, at (Forest) I’m self-aware to know that I wasn’t good enough. I had some really great moments but also some tough ones as well and the club had to make a change. They brought in a keeper who ended up on the PFA Team of the Year (Matz Sels). I got the full experience and from top to bottom those jobs are super-competitive. My only regret is that I didn’t show (my skills) consistently enough but I did achieve my dream in playing there. I learned a lot and a lot of lessons I can take with me for the future. I would love to go back there some day, it’s not a closed chapter for me. If I put in some consistent performances maybe I can get back to England and try my luck again.
Matt had a solid Gold Cup. He reminds me a bit of my story in terms of making the most of the opportunity. He’s done well in New York and I have been in camps with him in the past. His story is pretty great. He’s doing well and he’s good competition.
It was an unbelievable experience, playing for my country at the World Cup. Feeling the weight, pressure and responsibility of being the goalkeeper for USA at the World Cup. I loved every minute of it. All the stadiums were unique and amazing. It was an incredible experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. My goal always was to push myself so hard that I would make the roster for the 2022 World Cup, never did I imagine that I would play there.
After having the feeling of what it was like being at the World Cup in 2022, as soon as it ended I thought, ‘How can I get this feeling again?’ I’m really motivated and clear in my mind in what I have to do every single day to get there. I will use those experiences to keep fuelling and keeping me focused until June comes around.
To do it on home soil would be next level. One regret I had about Qatar was because it was mid-season I didn’t get to go back to America until March (2023) for the next international window. So you don’t really get to encapsulate what your performance means to everyone in the country because you are away. For the next World Cup, you are going to have a lot of family and people around and will get that immediate feeling about what that performance was like for everyone to experience from the fan side.
