One yr in the past, few would have anticipated Matt Freese to have been the U.S. crew’s World Cup starter however the Harvard alum has seized the chance to protect the nets of host nation
BY
David DeMartelli
Posted
June 09, 2026
6:10 AM
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WHEN COMPARING THE 26 PLAYERS on the U.S. roster, there are a lot of totally different tales. Some gamers, comparable to Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams, have been with the crew for years and performed in youth World Cups collectively. Others comparable to Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman joined this system to nice pleasure after representing different nations on the youth ranges. Then there are others gamers like Tim Weah, Joe Scally, and Gio Reyna who had been extremely rated as youth gamers and continued to progress so far the place they’re now on their second World Cup roster.
The journey of Matt Freese is likely one of the extra outstanding tales on this yr’s crew. Two years in the past, nobody would have projected him to have a lot of an opportunity to even be the crew’s third-string keeper. However now simply days away from the opener, Wayne, PA native seems to be to be the crew’s No. 1.
“As a competitor, you always want to be on the field,” Freese stated. “Always want to help your team in whatever capacity. And this doesn’t change in this moment. Whatever I’m called upon to do, I’m ready to do. I derive a lot of my confidence from the hard work that I’ve put in. And I’ve worked quite hard. Now is a time to be confident and remember all the work that’s been put in.”
Rising up on the Predominant Line exterior Philadelphia, Freese comes from a extremely completed household in science and drugs. His paternal grandparents had been scientists in Germany who immigrated to america after the second World Conflict. His grandfather, Dr. Ernst Freese, grew to become Chief of the Nationwide Institute of Neurological Problems and Stroke and the Laboratory of Molecular Biology on the Nationwide Institutes of Well being the place he made important contributions within the subject of molecular biology. Freese’s father, Andrew Freese, was a neurosurgeon who earned his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Expertise.
Freese, 27, confirmed promise as a soccer goalkeeper at a younger age the place he developed throughout the Philadelphia Union’s youth academy. However was additionally capable of stability educational rigor and ultimately left the Union to attend school after he was accepted at Harvard College. He performed for the Crimson in 2017 and 2018 however ultimately took a depart from the celebrated faculty to signal a homegrown contract with the Union.
After breaking by way of with the Philadelphia Union, Freese was ultimately capable of earn his diploma from Harvard in 2022 after taking programs in the course of the COVID period when play was restricted. Wanting again, he considers that essential to his improvement as a participant.
“When you’re a professional athlete at age 18, 19, sometimes it can be difficult to keep a routine, keep a regimen that keeps you focused and keeps you hungry,” Freese explains. “And for me, taking courses was one thing that occupied my time, occupied my thoughts, and gave a really pure launch. Off the sphere that I believe at that age was vital. It is totally different now. I am 27, I have been a professional for eight, 9 years. It is fairly totally different now and I understand how to deal with it. However at that time in my life, it was extremely essential.”
Freese had an enormous breakthrough in his profession in 2023 when he was traded by Philadelphia to New York Metropolis FC. In Philadelphia, he had been taking part in principally behind longtime veteran Andre Blake who has been top-of-the-line keepers in league historical past. However in New York Metropolis, Freese was capable of play usually because the No. 1. In 2024, he was named New York Metropolis’s Most Beneficial Participant of the season.
However it was not till 2025 when Freese would make inroads with america nationwide crew. He was referred to as up by Mauricio Pochettino to the January camp that yr however Freese didn’t play. It was not till June 7 in a 2-1 loss to Turkey when Freese would earn his first cap. He began the period of the Gold Cup after which by way of the autumn friendlies.
So far in 2026, Freese has been in a rotation with Turner however with Freese beginning the 2-1 loss to Germany within the last pleasant earlier than the World Cup, it signifies he’s doubtless Pochettino’s alternative for the World Cup.
“You dream of this opportunity, you work for the opportunity, but you never know if it’s going to come,” Freese stated. “I learned probably nine years ago, the ones that work hard without the promise of reward are the ones that usually succeed.”
Traditionally within the fashionable period, the U.S. nationwide crew has been robust within the goalkeeping positions with Tony Meola, Brad Friedel, Kasey Keller, Tim Howard, and later Matt Turner all having been World Cup starters.
However Freese is about to change into the primary U.S. nationwide crew beginning goalkeeper primarily based in MLS on the time of the World Cup and the one beginning World Cup U.S. keeper whose solely expertise has been home. When requested, Freese admits he blocks out comparisons between him and former U.S. keepers solely to say he was closely impressed by them rising up.
“I don’t hear it,” Freese stated. “I am not really listening to anyone outside of the guys with me and the coaching staff obviously. I am just focused on just doing my thing each and every day and being present with that mindset. With that in mind, it is fair to say the U.S. has had a great goalkeeping core historically. I was a fan of that goalkeeping core for much of my life, still am. It’s an honor to be on this team and be part of that group to hopefully continue that great legacy.”
With this World Cup approaching residence soil, most of the storylines surrounding the crew are big-picture oriented. Everybody is aware of that the legacy of the 1994 World Cup was optimistic for the game in america because the host nation. MLS started play within the aftermath of the event, youth participation elevated, and video games grew to become extra prevalent on tv.
“It means so much to be able to be in a position to inspire the next generation,” Freese defined. “And there’s a compounding effect to it, obviously. We were inspired by the previous generation. Hopefully we inspire the new generation. The more we inspire them, the better the following generation will be. So to be in a position to train in front of these people today and hopefully play on Friday in front of all the fans and inspire them. Is such a unique opportunity and one that none of us take for granted. We’re working as hard as we can, as focused as we can to continue to leave the next generation inspired.”
Freese is perhaps right that if the U.S. crew does effectively, the crew may have an enormous impact on the continued development of the game in america. However having that solely creates added strain on the crew.
However Freese seems to be at that strain with a optimistic mindset as effectively.
“The bigger stakes in a tournament like this create incredible opportunities,” Freese stated. “Pressure makes diamonds. And I think we’re a group of 26 guys that want to show that we’re bunch of diamonds.”
