USMNT
Falling In Love With Soccer
To begin, I am going to tell you two stories about me and my love of soccer. I promise there is a reason for telling these stories, but should you wish to skip those, the section entitled “Growth in America” begins the meat of this article.
Meeting My Love
I remember the moment I fell in love with soccer like it was yesterday. It was the summer of 2010, my brother and I turned on the TV to watch some sporting event that was supposed to be starting soon. I honestly can not tell you what we were waiting on, but I can tell you everything about what I unintentionally watched. Without knowing it, I was watching the biggest match in the world, the World Cup final.
The first thing I noticed was how invested the fans were. The stadium was packed and so loud. I had never seen an environment like that before. I do not remember how long I watched the match before Iniesta scored the winning goal, but it could not have been more than five or ten minutes. If I am being perfectly honest, I do not actually remember the goal itself. What I remember is the emotion. I remember the stands erupting, the players running around not knowing what to do with the excitement, and the pride etched all over their faces. I remember the Dutch players and fans’ heartbreak. My only conscious thought was, “Wow, it means so much!”
In fact, that was my only thought watching the rest of the match and trophy presentation. I might not have even been able to tell you the nation that won. The winner did not matter to me. All I saw was how much it meant to every single person, on both sides. I had never seen that before. At that time, I had watched a few Super Bowls and some of the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, but I had never seen emotion like that.
As I started to process what I had seen, another thought hit me. These players were playing on a national team. At that point in my life, I did not realize team sports had national teams outside of the Olympics. I knew gymnastics did in a way, but that was largely an individual sport. It was so intriguing to me to see players representing their country in their sport. It was a new concept to me, and I immediately loved it.
Falling For THe Boys in Sky Blue
Knowing how I fell in love with the sport, my guess is that it will be pretty easy to infer how I fell in love with Manchester City. I will be honest though, I was not all that into the club game originally. Nothing at the club level was able to match the emotion and passion of the World Cup Final. The club game was more boring to me at first. It just did not seem to matter as much.
That all changed one Sunday in May. The 13th of May in 2012 to be exact. I did not see the match live. I found out about it afterward. The first time I saw Agüero’s goal was a YouTube video that came up as I was watching highlights of the USWNT at the 2012 London Olympics. Agüero’s goal had the same effect on me as seeing Iniesta’s World Cup-winning goal, for the same reason. I saw the same passion and energy. Even the commentary on that video was full of excitement and passion. I cried watching it.
After seeing that goal and what it meant to the fans and players, I looked up why. Doing so, I learned Manchester City’s history. It was the first league title in many years, and over rivals Manchester United too! I learned about promotion and relegation, something that I did not know existed until that day. Eventually, I started to understand that the club game could be just as passionate as the international game. I wish I could say I became fully invested in Manchester City that day, but I did not. That would not come for several years. I just was not ready for the club game yet. I never forgot that moment though.
When Christian Pulisic starting breaking through at Dortmund, I started getting more invested in club soccer. It did not take me long to start watching the Premier League. Eventually, I found my way back to Manchester City very naturally. I watched them play one day in their sky blue shirts and that memory from 2012 came back to me. A quick Google search told me I was watching the same team.
It is hard to explain what happened emotionally inside me at that moment. It was like something just clicked. I knew I had my team. The love I felt was so real and so deep. It was like it was always there, just asleep. I honestly believe it was. It was there the moment I saw what I would later learn was called 93:20. That second in time, now permanently inked on my body, was the moment I fell in love. I just did not know it yet.
Growth In America
First, what a lot of the hardcore USMNT soccer fans need to realize is we know too much. I do not mean that in a bad or degrading way at all. What I mean is that we are so analytical and technical that we lose sight of what draws people into the beautiful game. I know for myself, and I am sure many others, learning and studying that side of the game deeps the love and appreciation for the sport.
However, I think we forget our first introduction, no matter our age, was about nothing more than pure unfiltered joy. For me, it was watching the 2010 World Cup final and 93:20. For others, it was probably kicking a ball in the yard as a child, someone taking them to their first match, or maybe seeing a specific player on TV. Whenever that first moment of love was, it probably was not the result of heavy tactical analysis such as debating the use of a 4-3-3 versus a 3-4-3.
As USMNT fans, we are always talking about growing the game domestically. We want to get more kids playing, increase the affordability, get more fans in the stands, and bring up TV ratings. We want to share the sport we love with others in our country. Over the last 15-20 years, we have come a long way. Look how easy it is to watch Euro 2020, every match is on ESPN+ and some are even on main ESPN channels!
That said, we all know we still have a long way to go. Winning Concacaf Nations League was a step forward. Americans like to win, so an easy way to get their attention is for the USMNT to win. On Sunday, they did that. Not only did they win, but they also did it in a highly entertaining fashion. It was the type of match that someone with little to no knowledge of the sport can watch and be fascinated by. Especially given it was the national team playing. The second part about winning is it allowed some of the boys to feature on mainstream sports shows.
Mainstream Soccer Coverage
This brings me to what I want to discuss, soccer in mainstream sports media.
Last night when I saw Taylor Twellman’s video preview of a segment he did with Stephen A Smith on Euro 2020, I was ecstatic. Then I read the comments from USMNT Twitter and my heart broke. What I saw was a lot of mockery of Stephen’s lack of in-depth knowledge of the sport and fans angry about what he was looking for in a Euro 2020 team to support.
This is what makes Stephen’s segment, and other mainstream sports media segments, so important; most of these hosts do not know much about soccer and neither does their average viewer! To grow the game, we need people who do not have the most in-depth knowledge talking about the sport. The average viewer of these shows is likely someone who might know who Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are, possibly that the USWNT wins a lot, and some might have heard of Christian Pulisic. These viewers are not going to be interested in the different tactical set-ups at Euro 2020. They will tune that out immediately.
To get new viewers interested, we have to meet them where they are. Where most of these mainstream sports viewers are, is having little to no interest in soccer. To get them interested, we have to sell them the sport. We do that by selling the passion, aggression, and pageantry of soccer, and in this specific case, Euro 2020.
Stephen A Smith’s criteria for choosing a team does that. It focuses on finding a fun team to watch. Having “star power,” one of his criteria, is huge for someone watching for the first time. Big names draw people in, and in America, where we are obsessed with winning, big names tend to win. Even something as “meaningless” to more hardcore fans, like Stephen’s “no ugly uniforms” criteria, can make a huge difference to someone watching for the first time.
In that clip, Taylor Twellman also does something very intelligent. He mentions Karim Benzema’s involvement with the French national team after a long absence. He goes on to tell Stephen it was due to “a fantastic, interesting, absurd story about a sex tape.” Most diehard soccer fans already knew that. It happened over five years ago, it is not new news. However, the average viewer of this segment would most definitely not know that. That person, possibly only half listening, after hearing the words “sex tape,” would likely become very interested in what is going on. People love scandals, especially involving something like a sex tape. Even something as small as that comment from Twellman can help grow the game here.
There is another key point to be made here; respect for soccer and its acceptance as an “American” sport. Talking about soccer regularly on mainstream US sports shows helps to normalize the sport in the average sports fan’s psyche. The need for this normalization is evident reading the comments (from Americans) on Stephen A Smith’s Tweet of the segment preview.
When the well-respected sports analysts on these major sports shows regularly comment on soccer, their viewers will become more open to watching. As that process happens, both their viewers and the hosts themselves will learn more and more about the beautiful game. It is then, that soccer starts to become an accepted part of American sports culture. That is what we all want, right?
For The Hardcore AMerican Soccer Fan
I am going to be blunt; these mainstream sports segments on soccer are not meant for us. The in-depth soccer content for us already exists. ESPN has the entire ESPN FC channel with analysis and soccer-specific talk shows. Fox has soccer-specific content, like Alexi Lalas and his podcast. NBC produces soccer-specific shows too, like Men in Blazers. Those shows and content are where the analytical and tactical conversations will take place.
In the case of Stephen’s segment, it was to get people who were not going to watch Euro 2020, to watch Euro 2020. The hardcore fan who already knows about the various UEFA teams and what to expect does not need that content. Again, the hardcore fan is not the target audience. Most people that watched that whole segment, would have known almost nothing about Euro 2020 and soccer in general. We have to meet people where they are, yes even major sports show hosts.
I do not want to be pessimistic or too negative, but we really need to be careful. We can not shoot down coverage of soccer because it makes us, with our in-depth knowledge and analysis, cringe. Nothing will turn new fans away faster than us criticizing their interest and knowledge of the sport. It should not matter to us if someone watches Euro 2020 because “country X has a nice uniform.” If having a cool-looking kit gets someone to watch, that is great! It is one more person watching than before.
When I watched the World Cup Final in 2010, I knew one thing; kicking the ball into the net was a point on the scoreboard. If someone had come up to me during that match and started criticizing me because what I cared about was how invested the fans and players were, I would have never watched another match. That is what we have to be careful of. Someone watching their first tournament and loving it might want to get involved and talk about soccer. We can not shut that person down.
Basically, my point is simple; we need to welcome people to the soccer world. We have to be supportive of segments on mainstream sports shows, even though it is cringeworthy to us. The hosts of these shows may not have much to any knowledge of the sport, and guess what? That is okay. It is okay for these hosts to not know technical and tactical differences. The more they cover the sport and start to enjoy it themselves, the more they will learn. None of us knew all the technical details at first either.
As I discussed earlier, the viewers of these shows likely do not know the sport. If someone watched one of those segments and became curious, only to see the comments from soccer fans criticizing it and calling it cringeworthy, that person may not be curious anymore. At the end of the day, that is the biggest loss; to inadvertently turn someone away from soccer only because we diehard fans discouraged and put down soccer coverage we deemed subpar.
I do not want to end this negatively. There is so much to be encouraged about! After all, the only reason I have written this is that there is soccer coverage on mainstream sports shows! The game is growing all across the US right now. It is wonderful and beautiful. More and more people are starting to watch and enjoy the game we love so much. The future of the USMNT is bright, MLS is growing, soccer stadiums are being built all around the US, and people are noticing. All we have to do is keep loving the beautiful game and welcome those who are just starting to.
USMNT
The No. 9 Timeline: A Historical Look at USMNT Strikers
Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)
Each generation of soccer can be understood through overlapping eras, each one feeding into the next. Some produce deeper pools of talent, while others rely on a handful of standout players. In a recent piece, I looked back at past USMNT goalkeepers and their impact on World Cup teams. That led to a natural follow-up: a deeper dive into the history of USMNT strikers.
For this article, I’ve divided that history into three distinct eras, focusing strictly on past strikers rather than the current pool. I’ll wrap up, however, with some thoughts on where today’s active strikers fit into that broader timeline. For each era I will spotlight four strikers.
According to their media guide, the modern era of the USMNT begins with the 1990 World Cup cycle. While that framing makes some sense, it does gloss over some of the program’s more challenging decades. For the purposes of this, though, we’ll start there as well, especially considering that from 1974 to 1986, the USMNT averaged fewer than 20 matches per cycle and scored less than a goal per game across those four cycles.
Trailblazers: The Early Era of USMNT Strikers
The story of USMNT strikers stretches back nearly 40 years, to a time when goals were often hard to come by, but a handful of players still managed to leave a lasting impression. This was an era defined less by consistent production and more by moments, flashes of quality that stood out during a formative period for the program.
Players like Chris Sullivan, Eric Eichmann, Frank Klopas, and Roy Wegerle all played roles in at least one World Cup cycle and delivered important goals along the way. However, consistency and longevity at the international level proved elusive, reflecting the broader challenges the USMNT faced during this period.
Even so, these players helped lay the groundwork for future generations, establishing the foundation for what the striker position would eventually become.
Bruce Murray (1985 – 1993)
85 Caps, 21 goals, 11 assists
A quick, opportunistic forward known for his movement and ability to capitalize on chances, Bruce Murray was the type of striker the USMNT hadn’t truly seen before. He filled that role throughout the 1990 cycle and into the lead-up to 1994, emerging as the team’s leading scorer during that stretch and helping guide the U.S. to its first World Cup appearance since 1950. At the 1990 World Cup, Murray contributed a goal and an assist, highlighting his impact on the international stage.
Despite his contributions, Murray was ultimately left off the 1994 World Cup squad, one of the final cuts as the program began to turn toward younger options and players competing in Europe at the time.
Eric Wynalda (1990 – 2000)
106 Caps, 34 goals, 17 assists
The premier striker of this era for the USMNT, Eric Wynalda featured in three consecutive World Cups. A dynamic and confident forward, he combined technical ability with a powerful shot, making him a constant goal threat and the focal point of the U.S. attack.
His iconic set-piece goal against Switzerland in the USMNT’s opening match of the 1994 FIFA World Cup remains one of the greatest in tournament history and stands among the best goals ever scored by the USMNT. Wynalda not only delivered in defining moments but also set the tone and standard for the strikers who followed.
Earnie Stewart (1990 – 2004)
101 Caps, 17 goals, 10 assists
Earnie Stewart was a key attacking figure for the USMNT throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, bringing a blend of technical quality, intelligence, and consistency to the squad. Comfortable as both a striker and a second forward, his versatility allowed him to influence matches in multiple ways while effectively linking midfield and attack.
While not a traditional No. 9, Stewart’s movement, awareness, and all-around contributions helped shape the evolution of the USMNT’s forward line during a critical period of growth for the program. He appeared in three World Cups—the 1994 FIFA World Cup, 1998 FIFA World Cup, and 2002 FIFA World Cup—and delivered one of the most iconic moments in U.S. soccer history, scoring the game-winning goal against heavily favored Colombia on home soil in 1994.
Second Generation USMNT Strikers (1996-2010)
The next era of USMNT strikers following the 1994 World Cup produced a tough, hard-nosed group. Several featured in one or more World Cup cycles, led by Josh Wolff, who made both the 2002 and 2006 squads.
Brian Ching and Eddie Johnson were also key figures, earning spots on the 2006 roster, with some arguing they were overlooked later in their careers. Other notable names from that period include Casey Coner, Ante Razov, and Taylor Twellman, players who all had opportunities with the USMNT, but whose form and timing didn’t quite align with World Cup selection. Twellman, in particular, still believes he should have been part of the 2006 squad.
Joe-Max Moore (1992 – 2002)
100 Caps, 24 goals, 14 assists
This was always a bit of a sneaky one for me. Joe-Max Moore was a consistently reliable attacking option for the USMNT during this era, even if he didn’t always get the spotlight. Currently ranked seventh all-time in USMNT goals, Moore contributed across three World Cup cycles and remained a steady presence in the attack.
He’s also one of just five USMNT players to score four goals in a single match, a standout performance that came against El Salvador in 1993. Despite his overall production and longevity, however, Moore was never able to find the back of the net on the World Cup (1994, 1998 and 2002) stage.
Brian McBride (1993 – 2006)
95 Caps, 30 goals, 11 assists
A traditional No. 9, Brian McBride was physical, relentless, and dependable, with a dominant aerial presence in the biggest moments. He put everything on the line for the USMNT, scoring in multiple World Cups (1998 and 2002) and cementing himself as a fixture at the striker position.
One of his most iconic moments came at the 2006 World Cup, when he was elbowed in the face by Italy’s Daniele De Rossi, leaving him bloodied and in need of stitches, yet he still played the full 90 minutes.
Clint Mathis (1998 – 2005)
46 Caps, 12 goals, 9 assists
While Clint Mathis had a relatively brief run with the USMNT, his impact on the attacking position was undeniable. Often deployed as a second striker behind Brian McBride, Mathis was anything but traditional—he thrived as a free-roaming attacker capable of changing a match in an instant, highlighted by his ability to score spectacular long-range goals.
He played a key role for the U.S. at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, scoring a memorable goal against South Korea in the group stage and adding an assist, helping power the team’s historic run.
The Evolving Striker Pool (2009 – 2018)
The striker pool from this generation is an interesting mix, some players were only involved with the USMNT for brief stretches, while others carried over from the previous era and overlapped with this group.
Strikers like Edson Buddle and Hercules Gomez, both part of the 2010 World Cup roster, had limited opportunities and production at the international level. Their inclusion was shaped in part by circumstance, as Charlie Davies’ recovery from his car accident less than a year before the tournament ultimately ruled him out of contention.
Looking ahead to 2014, Aron Jóhannsson and Chris Wondolowski earned World Cup roster spots but struggled to make a lasting impact in the biggest matches against top-tier opponents, which limited their long-term roles with the national team.
Players like Jordan Morris, Jesús Ferreira, and Gyasi Zardes emerged and saw increased opportunities following the failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. It’s easy to imagine that at least some of that younger group could have factored into the roster had the U.S. made it to Russia.
Clint Dempsey (2004 – 2017)
141 Caps, 57 goals, 19 assists
Clint Dempsey delivered some of the most iconic striker moments in USMNT history, big goals, clutch performances, and a relentless ability to show up when it mattered most. While he wasn’t a traditional target striker, his movement, instincts, and technical ability made him one of the most dangerous attacking players the U.S. has ever had.
He scored against top-tier opponents like Spain and Brazil at the 2009 Confederations Cup, found the net against England at the 2010 World Cup to help secure a crucial draw, and famously opened the scoring just seconds into the 2014 World Cup. He also delivered in the 2016 Copa América, with key goals against Ecuador in the quarterfinal and Paraguay in the group stage.
Dempsey wasn’t just a scorer, he was a moment-maker. Whether it was a scrappy finish, a composed strike, or stepping up in the biggest matches, he consistently delivered when the U.S. needed him most.
Jozy Altidore (2007 – 2019)
115 Caps, 42 goals, 14 assists
Jozy Altidore had a unique USMNT career, less about highlight-reel volume and more about physical presence, hold-up play, and stepping up in key moments. At his best, he was the focal point of the attack and a difference-maker. Jozy’s work ethic seemed to impact later stages of his club and USMNT career and impacted him becoming the all-time leading scorer in USMNT history.
Bobby Wood (2013 – 2018)
43 Caps, 13 goals, 3 assists
If it weren’t for Jürgen Klinsmann’s support after Bobby Wood secured a new club in Germany, it’s unclear whether his international career would have continued. While his peak was relatively brief at both club and national level, Wood made his mark with clutch moments, most memorably scoring game-winning goals in back-to-back 2015 friendlies: a 4–3 comeback victory over the Netherlands and a 2–1 win against Germany.
The Next Generation: Assessing the Future of USMNT Strikers
The current USMNT striker pool remains very unsettled. At the moment, Ricardo Pepi is the only regular forward to reach double-digit goals, with 13. He’s followed by Folarin Balogun with eight and Haji Wright with seven. Other notable names in the mix include Josh Sargent and Patrick Agyemang, each of whom has contributed five goals at the international level. However, Agyemang suffered an Achilles injury and has been ruled out of the World Cup, a significant setback given his recent form. For the USMNT to be successful at the 2026 FIFA World Cup their strikers will be a key role and contributing to the teams’ goals scored.
From a club perspective at the time of the article, Balogun is in excellent form, and the hope is that continues through the 2026 FIFA World Cup. At this point, it feels clear that Balogun and Pepi have established themselves as the top two striker options. The bigger question, though, is who else will step up to provide the depth and quality needed to sustain the position in this cycle and beyond.
USMNT
Entry into US Men’s National Fandom
Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)
Every soccer fan has a player or a moment or signature win that pulls them into the game and binds them to a team, no matter how high or low the journey becomes.
For me, that moment was tied to the U.S. Men’s National Team hosting the 1994 World Cup, along with my own recent introduction to the sport as the starting goalkeeper for my school team. Tony Meola, in particular, stood out as one of many important icons and trailblazers for the USMNT during that era.
I imagine there are countless young fans around the world who have already had, or will soon have, that defining moment over the last few years: discovering their first international team and the players they’ll root for and follow for years to come.
Before the 1990 World Cup cycle, those moments were rare for the USMNT. The United States hadn’t even reached the final round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying. Their closest opportunity came during the 1986 cycle, when all the U.S. needed was a draw at home against Costa Rica, a result they had achieved just five days earlier on the road in Costa Rica.
In the 1980s, the USMNT qualified for the Olympics three times, once automatically as the host nation in 1984 and twice through the qualifying tournament. It’s also worth noting that Mexico was disqualified during both the 1980 and 1988 qualifying cycles.
Despite qualifying, the U.S. withdrew from the 1980 Olympics in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. In the tournaments they did play (1984 and 1988), the USMNT struggled to make an impact, failing to advance out of the group stage and managing just one combined win across both competitions.
USMNT on the Rise (1988-1998)
This generation of trailblazers put the U.S. Men’s National Team back on the map—ending a 40-year World Cup drought, hosting the 1994 World Cup, and advancing further than the world expected.
1989 WCQ neutral side in Honduras vs El Salvador
A rare win away from home soil keeps US in hunt to qualify for 1990 World Cup.
1989 – Qualification at Trinidad & Tobago
The win in Port of Spain sends the US to its first World Cup since 1950.
1990 – Return to the World Cup (Italy)
Results were tough, but simply qualifying restarted the program on the world stage.
1991 – USA 2–0 Mexico (Gold Cup)
The USMNT’s first “Dos a Cero” win against Mexico to advance to the first Gold Cup Final.
1993 – USA 2-0 England (U.S. Cup)
The USMNT first win against England since the 1950 World Cup.
1994 – USA 2–1 Colombia (World Cup)
One of the biggest upsets in World Cup history; launched U.S. soccer into the mainstream.
1995 – USA 3-0 Argentina (Copa America)
The apex win for this generation of USMNT trailblazers.
1998 – USA 1-0 Brazil (Gold Cup)
The USMNT only win over Brazil to date.
Earning Respect from the World (1999-2010)
After a disappointing performance at the 1998 World Cup, the USMNT reset by hiring American coach Bruce Arena. That decision, combined with the emergence of impactful young players, helped restore credibility and earn growing respect on the global stage—culminating in a deep and memorable run at the 2002 World Cup.
1999 – 2-0 Win over Germany (Confederations Cup)
USMNT second win over Germany in 1999.
2001 – First “Dos a Cero” vs Mexico in Columbus (World Cup Qualifier)
A rivalry-defining moment and a psychological turning point.
2002 – USA 3–2 Portugal (World Cup)
The world took notice. One of the greatest performances in USMNT history.
2002 – USA 2–0 Mexico (World Cup Round of 16)
Dominance over rival Mexico on the biggest stage.
2002 – World Cup Quarterfinal run (loss 1–0 to Germany)
Even in a loss the USMNT deepest World Cup run got attention from most.
2005 – USA 2-0 Mexico in Columbus (World Cup Qualifier)
USMNT WCQ win over Mexico qualified them for the World Cup.
2007 – Gold Cup Final: USA 2–1 Mexico (Gold Cup)
A signature win in Chicago with a classic Donovan goal.
2009 – USA 2–0 Spain (Confederations Cup)
Ends Spain’s 35-match unbeaten streak in a historic semifinal upset.
2010 – Donovan vs Algeria (90+1’)
The most iconic goal in USMNT history; dramatic group-stage escape.
The Klinsmann Era (2011-2017)
When Jürgen Klinsmann was hired to replace Bob Bradley, he introduced a new mindset for the USMNT, challenging players to compete at higher levels with their clubs. The opponents he scheduled during his tenure reflected that philosophy, consistently pushing the team against stronger international competition.
2012 – USA 1-0 Italy (Friendly)
A key road win for the USMNT under Klinsmann.
2012 – USA 1-0 Mexico (Friendly)
The Americans first ever win at Azteca in Mexico.
2013 – USA 4-3 Germany (Centennial Match)
Celebrating their centennial match in style with a win.
2013 – USA 4-3 Bosnia-Herzegovina (Friendly)
A comeback road win against the 13th ranked Bosnia-Herzegovina.
2013 – USA 2-0 Mexico (World Cup Qualifier)
Nothing better than Dos a Cero that qualifies you for the World Cup.
2014 – USA 2–1 Ghana (World Cup)
Revenge at last, with a clutch John Brooks header helping to advance from Group of Death.
2015 – USA 4-3 Netherlands (Friendly)
A thrilling comeback victory on the road against the Netherlands.
2015 – USA 2-1 Germany (Friendly)
Days after beating the Netherlands, the USMNT topped Germany in a hard-fought match.
2016 – USA 2-1 Ecuador (Copa America)
A quarter-final win for the Americans who advance to the semi-finals of Copa America.
The Rise of a New Generation (2018-Current)
After the failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the USMNT landscape began to shift. A greater emphasis was placed on integrating younger players into the national team, even as it became increasingly difficult for the U.S. to schedule friendlies against top-level opponents from Europe and South America.
2021 – USA 3-2 Mexico (Nations League)
This extra-time win sparked a period of dominance over Mexico.
2022 – USA 3-0 Morocco (Friendly)
A victory over the eventual fourth-place finisher at the 2022 World Cup.
2022 – USA 1-0 Iran (World Cup)
A first-half strike from Christian Pulisic propels the U.S. into the knockout stage.
2023 – USA 3-0 Mexico (Nations League)
A dominant semifinal win preceded Gregg Berhalter’s rehiring.
2024 -USA 2-0 Mexico (Nations League)
Another victory over El Tri, extending the unbeaten run to seven matches.
A Chance to Win will bring in New Believers Ahead of 2026
The USMNT has a prime opportunity to build momentum and attract new supporters ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with upcoming friendlies against European powers Belgium, Portugal, and Germany, along with AFCON champions Senegal. These high-profile matchups offer a rare spotlight and a chance to measure themselves against the world’s best.
A deep World Cup run, reaching the quarterfinals or beyond, would go a long way toward winning and retaining new fans. But to truly grow the fanbase, success must be consistent, with fewer lapses and a standard of performance that reinforces belief long after the tournament ends.
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Breaking the Mold: Freese a Unique USMNT Goalkeeper
Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)
With only the March window left before Mauricio Pochettino finalizes the 2026 World Cup roster, one major question remains: who can truly be trusted to guard the net? It’s a debate still dividing media, fans, and observers alike.
The USMNT has produced some legendary goalkeepers over the past four decades, but the current pool has yet to see anyone truly seize the No. 1 spot. For a while, it looked like Matt Turner might start in back-to-back World Cups, but after a poor summer performance against Switzerland, he lost his place to Matt Freese. Freese went on to start the last thirteen matches, yet outside of his heroics in the 2025 Gold Cup penalty shootout, echoing Turner’s run in 2023, Freese hasn’t fully convinced me he should be the starter at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Since the 1990 cycle, five USMNT goalkeepers, Tony Meola, Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, Tim Howard, and Matt Turner, have earned the World Cup starting role. Each of them logged minutes in the grueling World Cup qualifying process before taking the job. But Matt Freese could become the first USMNT goalkeeper to start a World Cup without ever playing a single qualifier.
Tony Meola – 1990 Italy World Cup
Creator: Bob Thomas | Credit: Getty Images
Tony Meola remains the youngest goalkeeper ever to start a World Cup for the USMNT. He went on to start in back-to-back tournaments and later served as the backup at the 2002 World Cup alongside Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller.
First Cap (Age) – June 7, 1998 (19 years, 3 month & 17 days)
World Cup 1990 (Age) – (21 years, 3 months, 10 days)
Overall Stats heading into the World Cup
Matches Played – 17
Matches Started – 15
Minutes Played – 1,395
Wins – 7
Shutouts – 6
World Cup Qualifying Stats
Matches Played – 4
Matches Started – 4
Minutes Played – 360
Wins – 2
Shutouts – 4
Kasey Keller – 1998 France World Cup
Kasey Keller, one of the backups to Tony Meola at the 1990 World Cup, was left off the 1994 roster but later reestablished himself in the USMNT picture. He went on to become the primary starter for the 1998 and 2006 World Cups and served as the backup on the 2002 team.
Creator: Ben Radford | Credit: Getty Images
First Cap (Age) – February 4, 1990 (20 years, 2 months & 6 days)
World Cup 1998 (Age) – (28 years, 6 months, 15 days)
Overall Stats heading into the World Cup
Matches Played – 34
Matches Started – 33
Minutes Played – 2,790
Wins – 18
Shutouts – 16
World Cup Qualifying Stats
Matches Played – 9
Matches Started – 9
Minutes Played – 810
Wins – 5
Shutouts – 6
Brad Friedel – 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup
Creator: Clive Brunskill | Credit: Getty Images
Brad Friedel, who started all five U.S. matches at the 2002 World Cup and made one start in 1998, earned a place on three USMNT World Cup squads during his career.
First Cap (Age) – September 3, 1992 (21 years, 3 months, 16 days)
World Cup 2002 (Age) – (31 years, 0 months, 5 days)
Overall Stats heading into the World Cup
Matches Played – 76
Matches Started – 74
Minutes Played – 6,453
Wins – 25
Shutouts – 23
World Cup Qualifying Stats
Matches Played – 13
Matches Started – 13
Minutes Played – 1,125
Wins – 7
Shutouts – 4
Tim Howard – 2010 South Africa
Creator: Ronald Wittek | Credit: Alamy
Tim Howard, the oldest first-time World Cup starter among this group, may also be the most accomplished. He appeared on three World Cup rosters, and likely would have made a fourth had the USMNT qualified in 2018.
First Cap (Age) – March 10, 2002 (23 years, 0 months, 4 days)
World Cup 2010 (Age) – (31 years, 3 months, 12 days)
Overall Stats heading into the World Cup
Matches Played – 51
Matches Started – 50
Minutes Played – 4,185
Wins – 31
Shutouts – 23
World Cup Qualifying Stats
Matches Played – 16
Matches Started – 16
Minutes Played – 1,440
Wins – 12
Shutouts – 8
Matt Turner – 2022 Qatar
Creator: Francisco Seco | Credit: AP
Turner seized his opportunity when an unwell Zack Steffen was forced off the roster to start the World Cup qualifying, stepping in to start the first of eight World Cup qualifiers. His performances solidified his place as the USMNT’s starting goalkeeper for the 2022 World Cup.
First Cap (Age) – January 31, 2021 (26 years, 9 months, 3 days)
World Cup 2022 (Age) – (28 years, 4 months, 21 days)
Overall Stats heading into the World Cup
Matches Played – 20
Matches Started – 20
Minutes Played – 1,800
Wins – 14
Shutouts – 14
World Cup Qualifying Stats
Matches Played – 8
Matches Started – 8
Minutes Played – 720
Wins – 4
Shutouts – 4
Matt Freese
Courtesy USMNT
Matt Freese would have the shortest runway of any USMNT goalkeeper, from earning his first cap to potentially starting at a World Cup. He would also become the first U.S. keeper to start at a World Cup without having played a single World Cup qualifier.
First Cap (Age) – June 5, 2025 (26 years, 9 months, 3 days)
World Cup 2026 (Age) – (27 years, 9 months, 12 days)
Overall Stats heading into the World Cup
Matches Played – 13
Matches Started – 13
Minutes Played – 1,170
Wins – 7*
Shutouts – 3*
World Cup Qualifying Stats
Matches Played – n/a
Matches Started – n/a
Minutes Played – n/a
Wins – n/a
Shutouts – n/a
It’s clear the USMNT doesn’t have a true front-runner in goal even though Mauricio Pochettino currently leans toward Matt Freese, but as we’ve seen, things can change fast. Matt Turner, Patrick Schulte, Chris Brady, Roman Celentano, and Jonathan Klinsmann will all need to push hard to earn their place on the final roster.
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