Matt Freeze, the goalkeeper for New York City FC, recently joked about his Harvard economics degree, implying he doesn’t quite see himself as the sharpest tool in the shed.
He doesn’t attribute his success this season to any secret formula.
Freeze was already enjoying a solid performance with NYCFC when he joined the US men’s national team for the Gold Cup earlier this summer, which unexpectedly placed him in talks for being a potential starting keeper come the 2026 World Cup.
Prior to the Gold Cup, he had only one appearance for the USMNT but ended up replacing veteran Matt Turner, starting all six games for the team.
“It was an incredible honor to not only participate in the group but also in the tournament,” Freeze shared in a phone interview. “I promised myself at the end of camp in January that I would do everything possible to be ready for that opportunity.”
The 26-year-old had just made his senior team debut shortly before the Gold Cup and seized that chance to shine.
Aside from a rough moment in the group stage against Haiti—where a misplayed clearance led to a goal—Freeze delivered strong performances, particularly in the quarterfinals where he emerged as a hero during a penalty shootout against Costa Rica.
He mentioned that coach Mauricio Pochettino and the staff regarded the Gold Cup as a “big step” for him, as they guided the US team to the finals, even though they ended up losing to Mexico.
So, what does this mean for Freeze’s chances to start in 2026?
“There hasn’t been a lot of clarity on that,” he said. “Of course, good communication is essential, and I have much more to improve on, but communication is definitely a significant part.”
“The step I just took sets a new standard for me, and now I need to keep building on that.”
He attributed his recent success to the preparations he undertook, stating that “nothing will change” regardless of whether he’s ready for an MLS preseason match or facing Mexico in a final.
“It gives me peace of mind to know I approached each game the same way,” he noted.
USMNT captain Tyler Adams mentioned being “surprised” by Freeze’s growth throughout the tournament. Freeze admitted that after a few matches, he started feeling more at ease, which positively impacted his play.
“I perform best when I’m confident and having fun, and that includes just being myself,” he said.
Freeze made his return to NYCFC last week, helping them secure a 2-1 win over Orlando SC—who are ahead of them in the conference standings. He is set to return to action against Sporting KC on Saturday.
With such a breakout performance in the Gold Cup, it would be easy to get ahead of himself, but Freeze is focused on the present.
“Honestly, does it make me think about that?” he pondered. “Not really. I’m the kind of person who prefers to stay in the moment, and I know there are roughly 330 days until the tournament starts.”
