On the Pitch
On the Pitch
On the Pitch
The USMNT’s Proving Ground: From the U.S. Open Cup to the FIFA World Cup 2026™
How the nation’s domestic cup competition helped develop the players representing the United States at the FIFA World Cup
MATT TURNER MEETS TYLER ADAMS, HAJI WRIGHT IN 2015
“The biggest thing about the [Open Cup] at the Jersey Express was that it was a platform to go up against professional players, guys that you read about in the newspaper,” Turner explained. “Having the opportunity to play on a bigger stage against some of the better players, it was huge for us, it was a great opportunity for our club, but also for us as players.”
Outside of league play, Turner made a handful of Open Cup appearances for Jersey Express. In 2015, Turner helped Jersey Express to their best-ever finish, a trip to the Third Round which ended at the hands of the eventual second-division prize-winning New York Cosmos. Along the way, Turner faced a pair of future USMNT teammates.
“When I was playing against [Red Bull New York II], I definitely remember playing against Tyler [Adams] and some of the other guys,” Turner said. Being from New Jersey and close by, I always wanted to prove myself whenever I got to play against Red Bull, because they never took a look at me. I guess I had a little chip on my shoulder.”
"Funnily enough, I never connected the dots when we played against the Cosmos that it was against Haji until very recently. I was talking to my father-in-law, and he was asking a little bit about the Cosmos and this and that. I said, 'You know, I actually played against them in an Open Cup match.' We watched the highlights, and that's when I remembered Haji took a dive in the box and got a penalty,” Turner said with a chuckle.
For all three future USMNT products, the Open Cup served as a key proving ground before the trio eventually moved on to Europe.
"I don't think I had the ability back then to dream as big as I ended up making it, but for me, it was always about testing myself against the best of the best and trying to learn and grow,” Turner said. “Having competitions where we could play against professional teams allowed me to size myself up against the other goalkeeper and see what I needed to work on, how I could get better, and whether I could hack it at that level.”
A CUP OF FIRSTS
ETCHED INTO HISTORY
Alex Freeman with the U.S. Open Cup trophy following Orlando City SC's victory against Sacramento Republic FC in the 2022 Final (Photo: Orlando City SC)
Robinson’s 2019 title was the last of his three trophies won with Atlanta United. His 2019 run started with a 3-1 extra-time victory against his former club, the Charleston Battery, in which he provided the assist on Romario Williams’ crucial second-half goal to force extra time. In the Round of 16, he tallied his first Atlanta goal to send the Five Stripes to victory against the Columbus Crew on the road. In the next three matches, Robinson anchored an Atlanta backline which only allowed one additional goal en route to a trophy. He played all 480 minutes of Atlanta United’s title-winning 2019 campaign in the Open Cup.
For Freeman, the Orlando defender played a more limited role in his side's trophy-lifting run. Before going on to shine with the first team and later make a move to Spain’s Villarreal CF, the rising defender was a mainstay for Orlando City B in MLS NEXT Pro during the 2022 season, only featuring as an unused substitute during Orlando’s penalty kick shootout victory against Nashville SC in the Quarterfinals. Still, the team recognized him as a member of the championship squad.
USMNT PLAYERS IN THE U.S. OPEN CUP
Name
Club(s)
Appearances
Miles Robinson
Atlanta United FC (MLS)
9
Tyler Adams
Red Bull New York (MLS), Red Bull New York II (USL Championship)
7
Cristian Roldan
Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
7
Auston Trusty
Philadelphia Union (MLS), Colorado Rapids (MLS)
6
Matt Turner
New England Revolution (MLS), Jersey Express (USL League Two)
