After the U.S. men’s national team’s disappointing defeat to Belgium in the World Cup Round of 16, goaltender Matt Freese found a silver lining.
In an interview, he shared, “While I was on the plane back and at the airport, kids approached me with their parents, stating they were now soccer fans. They couldn’t stop talking about soccer,” Freese reflected. “It was quite an experience. Even though it was a tough time, I think about it often, and I hope it shows I made some sort of impact.”
Now, just over a week since the 4-1 loss, Freese is back in New York gearing up for the upcoming MLS season with New York City FC. He confessed he’s been mulling over whether he should’ve gone home at all.
Despite capturing the admiration of fans with their performances in the tournament, the U.S. team’s journey ended in disappointment, marked by the controversy surrounding star striker Folarin Balogun’s suspension.
During the match, Freese made a critical error that led to Belgium’s third goal—a moment that seemed to seal the team’s fate.
“Mistakes like that stick with you,” he paused before continuing, “but I see them as moments that motivate me, not define who I am as a player. I want to focus on the positives while minimizing the negatives.”
Known among his NYCFC teammates for staying composed under pressure, Freese reflected on his World Cup experience, calling it an “honor.” He hopes to return in four years to build on what he believes the U.S. team has begun.
He is optimistic about the U.S. men’s national team’s future, saying, “I genuinely believe in this program,” and supports the idea of Mauricio Pochettino returning as head coach.
Freese also had a message for skeptics regarding the team’s trajectory. “We’re going to work our tails off to prove them wrong,” he asserted.
As the MLS season approaches, Freese is poised to take the field again, and NYCFC’s CEO hinted that they plan to leverage his recent fame from the World Cup to boost interest.
The league has initiated a broad marketing campaign featuring Freese, promoting it with the tagline “Thank the world, we’ll succeed from here.” He has also been selected for the league’s All-Star Game later this month.
Despite usually being a private individual, Freese expressed his eagerness to embrace the role of a sport ambassador.
“You have to be aware of your place and contribute,” he noted. “My responsibility is to help elevate soccer in this league and the country while representing my country, the league, and New York City with pride.”
Ultimately, Freese hopes his journey inspires others. “I want to encourage players to keep pursuing this sport, just like I was inspired 20 years ago,” he said.
