For New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese, 2026 has been both a year to remember and one to forget.
The 27-year-old shot stopper, who took over as the U.S. Men’s National Team’s starter during last summer’s Gold Cup, recently took part in his first-ever FIFA World Cup, entering the tournament having made just 15 international appearances.
Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT won the hearts of many during the course of their run to the Round of 16, winning Group D and playing some excellent attacking soccer along the way, with Freese conceding just one goal in three games, including their first World Cup knockout win since 2002.
However, the fairytale run came to a messy end in Seattle, Washington, with the Trump administration’s interference in the Folarin Balogun red card situation proving highly controversial ahead of the USMNT’s 4-1 Round of 16 defeat to Belgium.
Unfortunately for Freese, the defeat will be remembered as much for a catastrophic error on his part as it will for the Balogun controversy. With the USMNT chasing Belgium’s 2-1 lead in the second half, a moment of indecision from the goalkeeper under pressure from Charles De Ketelaere proved extremely costly, as Hans Vanaken scored from around 30 yards out into an unguarded goal.
Since the loss, the USMNT has faced heavy criticism from former players, the media, and fans alike, something Freese admitted has been tough to take. “It's just so difficult for me to hear that because if people were to see this group on a day-to-day basis and spend time with these guys more personally, they would see how badly we wanted it. They would see how bad I wanted it,” he told ESPN.
“Two years ago, dreaming, like literally dreaming of this, and feeling the honor and the responsibility that comes with it. We wanted it so badly, more than anything else we've ever wanted, to capitalize on that and reward that support with something special. During the World Cup and the months leading into the World Cup, there was literally nothing else that crossed my mind.”
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Reflecting on their tournament exit, Freese said there was a sense of “disbelief,” going on to add that they did not want “that experience together and not wanting the memory of 'Country Roads, Take Me Home' to be over or not be happening again at home. Not be able to feel that and feel that again with our fans and feel that together as teammates and as a family on the field. It was devastating.”
He continued, “The desire and will to maximize our performance was so strong it hurts my heart to see that people don't know that because it is true. I wish I could talk to every person personally and individually and explain this to them and tell them this.”
Despite the disappointment and sadness, Freese was adamant that in the years to come, this experience would only strengthen them, saying, “It's become about trying to find a way to turn this elimination into motivation.
“I think all of us have the motivation to do something even greater, even better, and to come back better. It's been about finding a way to turn the elimination into fuel for the fire, if that makes sense. It is easy [to turn it into motivation], but it doesn't take away from the sting of the pain of what elimination leads to.”
Freese’s attention now returns to the MLS, with NYCFC eighth in the Eastern Conference ahead of their post-summer-break opener against the Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field on July 22. Pascal Jansen’s side enters the game just a point behind FC Cincinnati in seventh and two behind Charlotte FC in sixth.
For Freese, this represents an opportunity to begin his push for a spot in the USMNT squad in four years time, commenting, “Yeah, the first thing is a feeling of hunger to be back there.
“That's a very direct and clear goal of mine immediately when the World Cup finished. I want to be back there and to want to do it again, but to want to do it better and go further and win that trophy.”
Source: Alloutsoccer.com
