The Concacaf Gold Cup may have introduced a new hero for the United States Men`s National Team: Matt Freese. The unlikely goalkeeping standout became instrumental in the USMNT`s progression to the Gold Cup semifinals, saving three Costa Rica penalties in a decisive shootout. His presence on the field, let alone a starring role, was highly improbable. Entering the camp, Freese was the third-choice keeper, presumably behind the primary USMNT starter Matt Turner, and potentially former starter Zack Steffen, who was aiming for his first start under coach Mauricio Pochettino. However, Steffen withdrew from the national team due to injury, and Patrick Schulte, a potential replacement, was also unavailable due to injury. With existing knowledge of Turner`s capabilities, Pochettino turned to Freese as part of his squad experimentation.
Sunday`s game clearly demonstrated Freese`s capabilities to the manager. Freese has a significant history of studying penalties, and after correctly anticipating most attempts and nearly saving Francisco Calvo`s shot during regular time, his abilities were undeniable. Even more remarkably, Freese stopped Calvo`s attempt in the shootout by staying central as the Costa Rican aimed directly at him. Freese credited his goalkeeping coach, Toni Jimenez, for the save on Calvo`s shootout penalty, but his extensive research into the Ticos` tendencies clearly paid off.
“Penalties are my thing. On the plane ride here to Minnesota, I was studying the penalties,” Freese stated after the match. “I`ve been studying them all week and was ready for it if we needed it, and the one that I didn`t move on was a suggestion from my goalkeeper coach Toni Jimenez.”
Who is Matt Freese?
A native of Wayne, Pennsylvania, Freese is one of several players with ties to the Philadelphia Union on this USMNT roster. After being involved with Bethlehem Steel in the USL, Freese chose to attend Harvard University, playing soccer there from 2017-18 before signing a homegrown deal with the Union in 2019. His time at Harvard proved highly valuable, ultimately paying dividends in the Gold Cup.
“I actually did a very long research project in college about penalty kicks,” Freese revealed. “To be able to rely on that type of thing and deal with a lot of statistics and stuff like that, read the game and read their hips and things like that, is massive.”
Combining that academic study with his practical experience makes it clear why Freese is particularly adept at saving penalties.
Freese made his Union debut in April 2019 as a substitute in a 3-0 victory over CF Montreal. He went on to make 13 appearances for the Union first team, but spent most of his time playing for their MLS Next Pro side, Union II. Opportunities were limited behind three-time goalkeeper of the year Andre Blake, but one specific aspect of MLS Next Pro play helped prepare Freese for his recent moment in the spotlight.
In MLS Next Pro, any game ending in a draw proceeds to a penalty shootout, allowing the winning team to earn two points instead of one. This rule provides young players with real-game shootout experience under pressure, which is difficult to replicate in training. In 2022, playing for Philadelphia Union II, Freese appeared in 16 games and won 3 out of the 4 shootouts he faced.
In January 2023, Freese was traded to New York City FC following Sean Johnson`s departure. He quickly earned the starting role there, ascending to become one of MLS`s top keepers in recent years. Freese was a finalist for Goalkeeper of the Year in the 2024 season, during which he also won a playoff penalty shootout against Cincinnati FC and had a 1-1 record in U.S. Open Cup shootouts. Although he ultimately lost the award to Kristijan Kahlina, it was a season that firmly put Freese on the map.
For those keeping track, Sunday`s shootout victory brings his overall record in penalty shootouts (competitive, post-match) to six wins from eight attempts.
Out of the Blue into the USMNT
Called into Mauricio Pochettino`s January 2025 camp, Freese didn`t make an appearance but did enough to earn a recall for the July friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland. Freese made his senior international debut in the loss to Turkey and has since kept his place for the Gold Cup, receiving an extended evaluation under Pochettino. Despite not having many USMNT youth appearances due to the depth of talented young keepers vying for spots, Freese has maximized his opportunity and risen rapidly on the national stage.
Can Freese be the Starting Keeper at the World Cup?
If Matt Turner doesn`t secure a club move that guarantees him regular playing time, the starting role for the USMNT could be wide open. Pochettino has emphasized that squad members need consistent club game time to earn opportunities with the national team, and he values performance regardless of the league level. Giving Freese this extended look reinforces that philosophy. However, it remains unclear how high Freese has climbed the depth chart during the Gold Cup.
The shootout was a standout moment, but with a 66.7% save percentage and -.18 goals prevented from open play during the tournament, Freese`s performance in regular game action has been statistically average. While not entirely his fault, given defensive rotations and errors, he`s primarily making expected saves rather than single-handedly winning games from open play. This could change if the momentum from the shootout victory fuels stellar performances in future matches. However, healthy returns for Schulte and Steffen will pose significant competition, particularly if all three remain in MLS as the 2026 World Cup approaches.
This situation presents Pochettino with a challenging decision, especially since goalkeeper hasn`t typically been a position of concern for the USMNT over the years. Faced with similar options, the choice may come down to which keeper`s style Pochettino and his staff prefer. Freese isn`t harming his case by being involved in three consecutive camps. However, if the World Cup were tomorrow, it would likely still be Turner`s job. Freese and others have less than a year to change that, and they are actively pushing Turner.
Even if he doesn`t secure the starting position, having a penalty shootout specialist as a backup can be a valuable asset for any manager. Freese`s unique background and skillset mean he can contribute significantly to this team, even without starting. This is an exciting development that highlights the benefits of Pochettino`s willingness to experiment and Freese`s ability to specialize.
Dominic Ashworth