Matt Turner has spoken in-depth following the USMNT’s disastrous group stage exit in the Copa America, with the goalkeeper calling on the team to ‘hold ourselves accountable’ moving forward.
With Panama’s win over Bolivia in the final group game, the US would have only progressed to the quarterfinals with a win over Uruguay – a result they failed to get as they fell 1-0 (after losing to Panama the match prior).
And Turner believes ‘it’s going to take a long time for the dust to settle from this summer,’ as he shared a lengthy message with his Instagram followers.
‘This a shameful feeling that we will use for years to come as fuel for what is no longer acceptable as players,’ he wrote. ‘We need to hold each other and ourselves accountable and for all the good that we did, we didn’t get the results necessary in the end to achieve our ultimate goal.
‘I understand that for many, it was a difficult summer to support the usmnt,’ he continued. ‘I just wanted to thank everyone for the love and energy we felt for all of it, nearly 60,000 people at all 5 games we played. We know it’s a huge opportunity missed to do something special on our home soil, we put so much into it emotionally, mentally and physically and although the results lacked I hope the fans felt that fight and desire from the team.’
Matt Turner and the USMNT’s Copa America did not go as hoped, as they’re already out
USA is out of the Copa America after a 1-0 defeat to Uruguay on Monday in Kansas City
Turner concluded his post by thanking his wife, Ashley, for attending every game with their two kids.
‘5 different cities with two babies you’re an absolute rockstar and without your love and grace I don’t know where I’d be in this world,’ he said.
Turner’s emotional post struck a different tone than his post-match interview with Fox Sports immediately after the Uruguay loss.
Asked about the team’s stewardship under Gregg Berhalter, Turner said, ‘I see no issue with the direction we’re heading.
‘When you have a fight like that on the pitch in every single game we’re in in this tournament, it speaks volumes to how the manager prepares us.’
Gregg Berhalter’s position as coach has come under fire following the early elimination
Berhalter’s position has increasingly come under fire after the USA’s early Copa America exit, with ex-USMNT star Tim Howard vouching for Jurgen Klopp in his exclusive Mail Sport column.
Clint Dempsey also accused Berhalter of ‘wasting’ the US men’s ‘golden generation’ after the defeat to Uruguay.
‘I’m at a loss for words, it’s so frustrating,’ he said post-game on FS1’s coverage. ‘You have a team that you’re rooting on and you want to do well… but where have we come since 2022?
‘You qualify for the World Cup, get out of the group… and where have we progressed? We haven’t. That’s the most frustrating part.’
Whether or not Berhalter keeps his job, it’s clear that he still believes in himself.
Asked whether he still thinks he’s the ‘right voice’ to lead the team into the 2026 World Cup, he answered with one word: ‘yes.’
