Freese or Turner? The U.S. Men's Goalkeeper Debate at Gold Cup Is A Hot Topic

AUSTIN, Texas – Without giving away his starting lineup, U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino hinted at where things stand with the goalkeeper situation ahead of the squad’s Gold Cup match on Thursday against Saudi Arabia (9:15 p.m. ET on FOX). 

"I think we all know Matt Turner, how good he is, he’s an experienced player," Pochettino told reporters on Wednesday afternoon. "But it’s a really tough moment for him after one year he didn’t play too much [with his club at Crystal Palace]. I think it’s also a good opportunity to take some of the pressure off of him and give an opportunity to another keeper to show it’s possible to fight for a place in the World Cup [roster].

"The opportunity for Matt Freese is an opportunity that he deserves because he’s played well in his club and of course he’s played in two games [for the USMNT] now, and it’s an opportunity for Matt Freese to see how he deals with the pressure to be No. 1 in the national team."

Matt Freese started for the U.S. men's team in the Gold Cup opener against Trinidad & Tobago. (Photo by Howard Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

Pochettino did not say that Freese had unseated Turner as the Americans’ starter. However, Freese, 26, has now started two of the last three matches. He earned his first cap in a narrow 2-1 loss to Türkiye in a tune-up friendly before Turner resumed his place in goal during a 4-0 loss to Switzerland. Pochettino went with Freese again in the Gold Cup opener, a resounding 5-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday.

Pochettino said ahead of that match that he trusted Turner, but wanted to give Freese more experience. Trinidad and Tobago weren’t dangerous around the goal, though the New York City FC goalkeeper was forced to