Matt Turner Answers 26 Questions | OneFootball

Twenty-six players have been named to the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for FIFA World Cup 2026. To get to know them better, we asked every player a set of 26 rapid-fire questions to learn more about their personalities and their journeys that led them to this incredible moment on the sport’s biggest stage.

Here are 26 questions with goalkeeper Matt Turner:

What is keeping you busy nowadays?

What isn’t keeping me busy? Soccer, family, dad life, and preparation for everything. It's keeping me very, very busy.

What's a perfect morning look like for you?

It's always nice after a win. I'd say a perfect morning is waking up, the kids slept in until at least 7:30 or 8, having a coffee, and a little bit of a family breakfast.

Are you an electric or manual toothbrush kind of guy?

Obviously always starting the day with brushing my teeth. Manual toothbrush guy. Manual.

What's your go-to activity for a day off with the family?

I think it's pretty simple. Just spending quality time together. Getting into the city of Boston, going downtown, getting into the public garden, having a nice brunch, and enjoying the sights and sounds that the city has to offer.

What's something guaranteed to put a smile on your face?

Whenever I arrive back home. I could have been gone for two hours or two weeks, but when I open that door and my kids are here and they say, "Dad, Dad," and run up and give me a big hug, that's the best feeling in the world.

When you know you're smiling, are you soft smile or smile with teeth?

Always with the teeth. Always.

What's one lesson you've learned from being a dad?

I've learned a lot, but the biggest thing I've learned is having a bit of perspective. This is the best part of life, being a dad and having a family. Also, the importance of showing up regardless of what's going on in your life. Showing up and being there for the people that you care about, for your kids. It means everything.

What's one word you'd use to describe your dad life?

Rewarding.

What's something your kids are into right now that you're also into?

My son is really into dinosaurs. My daughter likes unicorns. Those are their big things. The thing they like right now on TV is "Little Einsteins," so I can kind of vibe along with that.

If you weren't a goalie, what position would you play?

Of course I'd want to be a number nine.

If you're a number nine, do you have a goal celebration in mind?

Anybody that is a number nine needs their own marquee celebration. For me, I'd want to do something with the corner flag. Maybe pretend to sing with it or something.

What's your favorite part about being a goalie?

You're kind of the last line of defense and you've got to problem solve and be there for people. If the ball is getting to the goalkeeper, typically something is going a little bit wrong. That means you're always there to be relied upon by your teammates.

What's something people don't know about the challenges that come with being a ‘keeper?

It's a mental grind. You're not always involved in the game physically. You can't just run around and make up for not feeling great with effort. You can only do what's presented to you. It's an extremely mentally taxing position.

Would you prefer a clean sheet or a highlight-reel save?

If it's anything like last night and I could get a little bit of both, that's the most ideal of all.

Do you have any pregame rituals?

Goalkeepers, we're all a bit funny. Most of us have quite a few. For me, I like to listen to the same music, eat the same foods, and say my prayers the same way.

What's a hobby people would be surprised to hear you enjoy?

I think people would be surprised to know that I like musicals.

What's your favorite musical?

"Hamilton."

Do you have a go-to karaoke song in the car?

I'd say my go-to karaoke song is probably "Bartender" by T-Pain.

What's your favorite city you've visited?

I've been all over, but I'd say my favorite is London. I've lived there and visited there as a tourist, and it's just an unbelievable city.

What's your favorite thing about living in New England?

Overall, just the people. It's homey. I have family here. They come in for the games and we get together, which is really nice. Being close to family and the people in general.

What are three words your USMNT teammates would use to describe you?

Reliable, hardworking and caring.

Who is one person who really assisted you on your journey to becoming a professional soccer player?

Any professional soccer player has been built up by a village of people. If I had to pinpoint one specific person, I'd probably talk about my goalkeeper coach from college, Javier Decima. Without him, I don't think there was even a chance for me to become a professional to begin with.

What does it mean to you to wear the crest?

Wearing the crest means everything to me. It's a summation of all the people who have helped lift me up. It's the thing I care about most in soccer. Everything I've done and every decision I've ever made has been to best position myself for the national team.

When this tournament is over and you look back, what do you hope people say about the way you played and carried yourself?

I hope people look at my story and can relate to it in some ways. My story is a lot of trials and tribulations, overcoming hardships, pursuing excellence at all times, being a good person, and being a good teammate. I hope people can always see that from the outside because that's the person I want to be. I want to represent the country well and always wear my heart on my sleeve.