Turner Returns in Net as Belgium Routs U.S. 5-2 in Friendly

ATLANTA — Matt Turner’s first U.S. appearance in nine months was a trial by fire. Belgium struck five times, two shots ripping past him and three ricocheting across the line on their own, to hand the Americans a 5-2 friendly defeat on Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The 31-year-old goalkeeper, whose 53rd cap was his first since a 4-0 loss to Switzerland on June 10, reclaimed the starting role after Matt Freese had started the previous 12 matches, including last summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup. Turner’s return comes amid a career reset that saw him leave Arsenal for Nottingham Forest, lose the No. 1 shirt, spend a quiet loan at Crystal Palace, and rejoin the New England Revolution last August.

“I understand and feel in my bones that this coaching staff is very fair and they’re going to give people that deserve chances a chance,” Turner said. “So just stay calm. I know that a lot can change in three months time and it did from September to November back in the last go-around.”

Coach Mauricio Pochettino said the switch was less a demotion for Freese than insurance for the future. “We thought that it was necessary to provide the opportunity to another keeper,” Pochettino explained. “For the World Cup, circumstances can happen.”

The U.S. led before Belgium equalized in first-half stoppage time and then poured on four more. Turner, who pounded the turf after the second goal, accepted the outcome. “I have to accept that the performance went the way it did and the team performed the way that we did,” he said. “And yeah, I’m just going to continue to claw and dig and nobody does that better than me.”

Turner’s path echoes his 2022 rise, when an injury to Zack Steffen opened the door for a World Cup starting spot. With qualifying for 2026 on the horizon, he hopes history repeats. “My overarching theme for earning that opportunity again is just to continue to be myself,” he said.