Freese starts over Turner as USMNT name lineup for World Cup opener against Paraguay

Matt Freese will start in goal for the United States men’s national team in their 2026 World Cup opener against Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on Friday, with manager Mauricio Pochettino confirming the New York City FC keeper ahead of veteran Matt Turner.

Freese, who made his international debut almost exactly a year ago on 7 June 2025, has never previously played in a World Cup. Turner started all four of the USA’s matches at the 2022 tournament in Qatar but was displaced by Freese ahead of the 2025 Gold Cup and has been unable to reclaim the shirt since. Pochettino’s decision ends one of the most closely watched selection battles of the tournament build-up.

Chris Richards will also feature from the start, providing a significant boost to the American backline. The Crystal Palace defender injured his ankle last month and only returned to full training with the squad on Monday. He lines up alongside captain Tim Ream at centre-back.

Alex Freeman, the squad’s youngest player at 21, starts in defence for his first World Cup appearance. Malik Tillman and Folarin Balogun also make their World Cup debuts in the starting XI.

Sergino Dest, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, and Christian Pulisic complete the lineup, all of them carrying over from the 2022 squad that reached the round of sixteen in Qatar.

Players were informed of the starting lineup on Friday morning ahead of kick-off.