Sean Johnson to Return to Orlando for Wednesday Friendly against Brazil with USMNT

ORLANDO – “Orlando’s been a great city, the fan support first and foremost has made it a fortress.”

As it continues to prepare for the upcoming 2024 Copa América tournament, the U.S. Men’s National Team will return to The City Beautiful for its second friendly of the young summer slate, taking on Brazil at Camping World Stadium Wednesday evening.

The squad’s trip, in addition to the high-profile matchup against the nine-time Copa América champions, will also represent a homecoming for goalkeeper, and former Knight, Sean Johnson.

In two seasons with the Black and Gold between 2007 and 2008, Johnson racked up 191 saves in 37 total matches in goal, posting an aggregate .749 save percentage and a 1.74 goals-against average. Although his tenure as a Knight lasted just two years, he managed to climb a handful of program statistical leaderboards, highlighted by his career save total that ranks seventh on the UCF all-time career list.

He also ranks tied for 12th on the UCF all-time career shutouts list with seven and tied for 13th on the all-time single-season shutout list with five in 2008 entering the program’s fall 2024 campaign, as well.

Johnson credits his time with the Knights as a launchpad for his 15-year MLS career that has featured stops with the Chicago Fire, New York City FC and Toronto FC from 2010 to 2024, as well as the opportunities he has received with the U.S. National Team.

Throughout his time with the National Team, which began just after the conclusion of his collegiate career in 2009, the Lilburn, Georgia, native has earned a plethora of accolades, highlighted by his becoming the 14th goalkeeper to earn double digit caps (appearances in international matches) with his clean sheet in the United States’ 0-0 draw against Uruguay June 5, 2022.

Johnson has also seen his named added to four CONCACAF Gold Cup rosters, helping lead the United States to three confederation titles in 2013, 2017 and 2021.

“You talk about progress with this group of players, there’s a lot of familiarity within the group,” Johnson said of his USMNT teammates. “A lot of guys, being on the youth national team all the way up to club teams in respective leagues playing against each other and always when we get together as a national team, to have and share those experiences where we get a chance to grow and build our cohesion and our brotherhood and really just step onto the pitch and get better as a unit.”

With the current U.S. squad, Johnson and his teammates look to bounce back from a 5-1 defeat to Colombia in their first friendly of the summer campaign June 8, next facing off against Brazil June 12 in Orlando. The United States boasts a 7-2-0 all-time record in nine matches played in Orlando, highlighted by a 5-1 victory over Panama in the World Cup qualifiers March 27, 2022.

Wednesday’s tilt represents the second and final tune-up prior to the commencement of 2024 Copa América, the latest iteration of the longest-running continental soccer tournament. This year’s edition also marks just the second time in history that the United States has hosted the tournament, and the first time since 2016.

The United States will join the other 15 participating nations in group play to begin the tournament, followed by a three-round knockout stage culminating in the Copa América final match scheduled for July 14. The U.S. this summer will be in search of its first Copa trophy.

“It’s a huge game for us to play against Brazil, one of, if not the best, national teams in the world,” said fellow U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner of the United States’ Wednesday tilt. “Playing against a quality opponent from top to bottom, it’ll be a really good test for us in preparation for what we want to achieve when we step on the field in Copa America. We expect it from ourselves, we want to be considered one of the elites, we have to perform when we play against the elites.”

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