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The Assist: Matt Turner reflects on family, mentorship and resilience
New York Life | June 8, 2026
New York Life’s The Assist explores the power of guidance through the stories of U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team players and the coaches, mentors and loved ones who helped shape their futures.
Matt Turner on the coach who changed his career
Q: You’ve said your soccer upbringing was “unique.” What do you mean by that?
A: When I was 16, I was just putting on the gloves really for the first time, playing for my junior varsity team. So there was always this little asterisk next to my name — like, yeah, he shows promise, but he doesn’t have the experience.
Q: At that point, what did you feel you needed most to keep going?
A: I just felt like, you know what? I have to find that one person that will take a chance on me. Javier was that person for me.
Q: When you got to college, what was your mindset walking in?
A: Going into college, I knew I wasn’t going to go in as the starter, but I knew I could learn a lot.
Q: How did Coach Decima push you during that period?
A: Javi was continually challenging me every day to push, and keep pushing, and keep pushing. That resulted in me getting an opportunity to play.
Q: You’ve talked openly about a really painful on-field moment. What happened?
A: After all that hard work, I ended up dropping a ball in the goal in a horrendous way. It was sensationalized on social media. It was a month or two of just… don’t talk to me.
Q: In that moment, what did Coach Decima do for you?
A: When Javi says that his role is to protect me, it makes me feel a little bit emotional because… he did do that. Mentally, physically, all of it. And he just relentlessly showed up.
Q: Looking back, how pivotal was that support?
A: Without Javi, that moment probably derails me from ever becoming what I ended up becoming.
Q: What did it mean to hear someone believe in you before you fully believed in yourself?
A: He never wavered in his belief in me, and sometimes when you can’t see your potential in yourself, you need somebody in your life that can.
Q: Do you remember a specific thing he told you that stuck?
A: I remember him just saying like, Matty, I’m telling you. I’m telling you you’re good enough to play for the US team.
Q: If you could say one thing to Coach Decima now, what would it be?
A: My career isn’t what it is without you.
Matt Turner on the sisters who made him tougher
Q: Set the scene for us. What was it like growing up in your house?
A: Growing up, I had two older sisters. I was just this little annoying kid to them.
Q: But you wanted to be in their orbit, right?
A: I always wanted to tag along to everything that they were doing.
Q: What did “playing together” look like in your family?
A: No matter what it was, they never let me win. We fought, but it was always just pushing me to be better.
Q: You’ve joked that your goalkeeping origin story is… your sisters. How so?
A: It’s almost like I got good at being a goalie… ironically, in some ways.
Q: When you look back, what did you learn by watching them?
A: They were both very successful athletes — great students, very, very smart. And they set such a high bar, I could watch how they did things and learned how to succeed.
Q: How did that shape the way you handle adversity now?
A: Success isn’t a straight line. You’re going to have ups and downs along the way. And I developed the tools to be able to handle it from my sisters, and I’m grateful for that.
Q: Your sister Michelle’s work during COVID clearly stayed with you. What did you see in her?
A: Michelle’s a nurse. During COVID, a lot of those ORs were turned into ICUs. And the way she handled it, it showed me the blueprint of a way to deal with hard times.
Q: You had a chance to recognize her publicly. Why was that important?
A: We had a tournament and you could say thank you to one of your heroes and I chose her.
Q: When you think about what grounds you, what are you most proud of?
A: The thing that I am most proud of is the support system that I have, because I know my sisters will always be there, regardless of what happens on the field.
Q: With the World Cup coming to the U.S. in 2026, what does that support allow you to do?
A: It allows me to focus wholeheartedly on competing to the best of my ability.
Q: Last one: How do you explain the role your family played in getting you here?
A: I have to be thankful — for every win, for every loss, for my family and support system. And I am where I am because of the people who shaped me.
Media contact
Sara Sefcovic
New York Life Insurance Company
(212) 576-4499
Sara_M_Sefcovic@newyorklife.com