BOSTON — Matt Turner made the United States Men’s National Team roster for the upcoming World Cup and will play in his second tournament next month. He is competing with New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese for the starting goalkeeper position.

Turner started all four matches for the United States in the 2022 World Cup. He played for three different clubs in Europe during 2023 and 2024 but did not receive as much playing time as he had wanted. He returned to the New England Revolution in 2025 and has made decisive saves in critical moments that led to wins for the team.

New England Revolution Goalkeeper Coach Kevin Hitchcock said Turner has regained his form after working to correct mistakes and bad habits that developed during periods without regular match play. “Matt had that same problem. He came back to me. We’ve ironed them mistakes out. We’ve ironed them bad habits out, and he’s gone back to where he was,” Hitchcock said.

Hitchcock, who played for Chelsea in the English Premier League in the 1990s, praised Turner’s readiness for international competition. “Making big saves in big moments is the big thing. It’s probably the biggest thing because it’s all about winning matches. And you need goalkeepers in tight situations where it’s nil-nil, one-one to make big saves at big times. Matt’s been doing that this year again for us. And we go on to win the game. No one really remembers a save, but they’re turning points at games. That’s going to be the big issue in the World Cup,” he said.

Turner credited Hitchcock with transforming his career after the coach arrived in Foxborough in 2019. “My life really changed when Kevin Hitchcock came in 2019 and after one training session looked at me and said, ‘You can play in the Premier League.’ That was the first time someone looked at me and believed in me at that level,” Turner said. “It’s been amazing working with him again. He’s really just peeled back the layers of the onion in terms of my goalkeeping. Strip things back and rebuild things in a confident way. The support and belief he has in me is tremendous. It’s great to be in an environment where every day you’re being challenged because Kevin knows the level I can play at.”

Hitchcock said Turner’s experience in the Premier League was valuable. “He’s gained a lot of experience in other leagues, especially in the Premier League. And he found out very quickly that the Premier League is a tough league. A lot tougher than MLS. And he goes there into the Premier League, not as a number one. So he had to bide his time,” he said. “He still saw himself as a number one so he goes to another club to play and he doesn’t play in that one and then you lose focus you lose the hunger and the desire from playing week in week out and it’s very hard when you’re not getting game time what you want. You go into this little mode where you’re just relying on training, and it’s not the same as playing games.”

Hitchcock also expressed confidence in Turner’s role on the national team. “I definitely think he’ll be the starter. He’s a better goalkeeper. He’s the best goalkeeper in the league by a country mile,” he said.

The United States Men’s National Team will play a friendly match against Senegal on Sunday night. If Turner starts in that match, it could indicate he is likely to start the opening match of the World Cup.