As the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, New Jersey will find itself at the center of the action. The tournament’s final will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, while New Jersey natives goalkeeper Matt Turner and midfielder Brenden Aaronson take to the field to represent the United States men’s national team.
Despite battling for the U.S. starting goalkeeper position heading into the World Cup, Turner has taken one of the most unique paths to the sport compared to other players on the national roster.
Raised in Park Ridge, Turner primarily played baseball and basketball growing up and did not begin to play soccer competitively until age 14. After attending Saint Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, he earned a scholarship to play at Fairfield University, where he developed into one of the top goalkeepers in college soccer.
Although Turner had a successful collegiate career, he went undrafted in the 2016 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft. He eventually earned a contract with the New England Revolution through a preseason trial and worked his way into the starting lineup in 2018.
Turner’s breakthrough came in 2021 when he won MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and helped lead New England to the Supporters' Shield.
That same year, he debuted with the U.S. national team and immediately made an impact, helping the Americans capture the CONCACAF Gold Cup while earning Best Goalkeeper honors.
In 2022, Turner proved his breakout season was no fluke, moving to Europe to join Arsenal of the English Premier League as a backup goalkeeper. Later that year, he made his World Cup debut, starting all four matches for the U.S. and recording clean sheets against England and Iran.
Since the 2022 World Cup, Turner has spent time with Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace on loan but has received limited playing time. As a result, he returned to New England in 2026 in preparation for the World Cup.
Turner has established himself as one of the most accomplished American goalkeepers of his generation and will need another strong performance to help the U.S. advance this summer.
Aaronson, on the other hand, took a more traditional path to the national team.
Growing up in Medford, Aaronson was part of a soccer-focused family. His younger brother, Paxten, has represented the U.S. at the youth international level, while his younger sister, Jaden, plays at Villanova University.
After several years with local clubs, Aaronson joined the Philadelphia Union academy and quickly emerged as one of the nation's top attacking midfield prospects.
In 2019, Aaronson signed with the Union as a homegrown player and quickly became one of the most exciting young talents in MLS. He helped lead Philadelphia to its first Supporters' Shield in 2020 and earned the nickname “Medford Messi” for his quick ball movement and relentless pressing.
Aaronson moved to Europe in 2021 and has since played for Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, Union Berlin on loan in Germany and Leeds United in the Premier League, where he currently plays. During his time abroad, Aaronson won two Austrian league titles and played a key role in Leeds' escape from relegation this season. He has emerged as one of the fastest-rising midfielders in the league.
After seeing limited action in the 2022 World Cup, Aaronson is expected to play a much more important role this time around. Alongside Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman, the U.S. could field one of the tournament's most exciting midfields, and Aaronson's high-energy pressing only adds to the appeal.
As the U.S. opens group play against Paraguay on Friday, two New Jersey natives could play a major role in determining how far the Americans advance.
William Gilhooly is the assistant editor of The Setonian’s Sports section. He can be reached at william.gilhooly@student.shu.edu.
