US goalkeeping legend Tim Howard has tipped New York City FC (NYCFC) ‘keeper Matt Freese to start in goals for the United States at the World Cup this summer.
Freese, who made his debut for the US Men’s National Team last year, started all six games at the 2025 Gold Cup as Mauricio Pochettino’s side lost 2-1 to Mexico in the final in Houston last summer.
Matt Turner, Freese’s main competition for the No.1 jersey, conceded five goals in his only international appearance this year as the US went down to a 5-2 defeat against Belgium.
Speaking at the launch of the MLS’s new global headquarters at 2 Penn Plaza on Wednesday evening, Howard said he “likes Turner a lot” but said he would go with the NYCFC shotstopper for the USA’s opening game against Paraguay next month.
“He’s a late bloomer, which means he’s very mature,” Howard said. “He doesn’t seem to get rattled by the big moment.”
Howard added that most starting US goalkeepers have produced a standout performance in a previous tournament, inspiring confidence in the back line in front of him. However, he added that Freese has not had a chance to have a “shining moment” because he is “so young in his international career.”
“All of our goalkeepers… have produced a performance when the team needed them. They stood on their head, and you basically then had the narrative, ‘if we need this guy to save us, he can,’” Howard said. “Because Matt is so young in his international career, he hasn’t had that opportunity. If he’s going to have a shining moment, it’s going to have to be in the World Cup.”
Howard set a World Cup record by making 16 saves in the USA’s 2-1 round-of-16 defeat to Belgium at the 2014 World Cup, but the former Manchester United and Everton ‘keeper hopes that Freese can break that record in front of a home crowd this summer.
He believes that playing a World Cup on home soil will be a “special” moment for American players, adding that he expects the USMNT to feed off the energy of playing in a home World Cup.
Howard added that players are generally “scared to death” before the start of international games but said US players will face an altogether different challenge in their opener against Paraguay next month.
“You’re almost having to not get ahead of yourself because you’re so excited,” Howard said.
Howard, who represented the US at three different World Cups between 2006 and 2014, said a quarter-final appearance would represent a “huge success,” adding that Christian Pulisic can cement himself as one of the greatest players in US history if he can “rise to the occasion” this summer.
“Last World Cup, he was young,” Howard said. “This time, he’s much more mature, much more of a leader.”
For more on Matt Freese and NYCFC, visit AMNY.com
