Matthew
Real

U.S. National Teams: Captained the USA at the 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship, where the USA rolled to its second-straight confederation title … Went the full 90 in five matches at the tournament, including the World Cup-clinching game against Costa Rica and the final against Mexico … Made his U-20 debut against France in March 2018 … Appeared with the U-18 MNT throughout 2016 and 2017 … Helped the U-18s to the 2016 Vaclav Jezek tournament title … Played for the U-16 Boys’ National Team in 2016 and 2015 … Called into camp for the U-15 BNT in 2014 … Earned his first Youth National Team invite in Nov. 2012 with the U-14 BNT.

Professional: Signed with the Philadelphia Union as a Homegrown Player on Jan. 18, 2018 … Has gone the full 90 in eight games this season for Philadelphia’s reserve team Bethlehem Steel in the USL Championship … Made his MLS debut on April 1, 2018 against Colorado … Spent most of the 2018 season with Bethlehem, logging 1836 minutes in 21 appearances … Signed a pro contract with Steel on Jan. 17, 2017 … Became a fixture for Bethlehem in 2017, logging 1607 minutes in 18 matches … Scored his first pro goal in a 3-1 win over Richmond on May 6, 2018 … Prior to signing with the Steel, played two matches with the team in 2016, debuting on May 29, 2016 against Rochester.

Youth: Played U-14 to U-18 with the Philadelphia Union in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy … Prior to joining Philly played with FC Delco from U-12 to U-14 … Spent U-9 through U-12 with Lower Merion Soccer Club … Kicked off his youth career with Upper Darby Soccer Club from U-5 to U-9 … Started playing soccer at age four.

Personal: Full name is Matthew Joseph Real … Middle name is in memory of his uncle … Grew up also playing basketball, football and baseball … Proud owner of three dogs … Enjoys traveling, playing video games and attending sporting events … Favorite soccer player is Marcelo … Greatest soccer moment thus far was signing his Homegrown contract … Favorite movie is Scarface, favorite TV show is Gotham … Enjoys playing FIFA … Loves listening to Drake … Favorite food is steak … Describes himself on the field as “engine, control and vision” … Describes himself off the field as “kind, goofy and serious.”