{"id":11920,"date":"2026-06-15T12:21:07","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T16:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/us\/?post_type=news&p=11920"},"modified":"2026-07-07T06:53:56","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T10:53:56","slug":"matt-freese","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/us\/news\/matt-freese\/","title":{"rendered":"Matt Freese: the USMNT’s last line of defense"},"content":{"rendered":"

Matt Freese<\/strong> has gone from MLS backup to the USMNT’s starting goalkeeper, and he begins a home World Cup as the man between the posts. Born in Pennsylvania, Freese came through the Philadelphia Union academy before finding regular football at New York City FC, and he started the United States’ opening win at the World Cup 2026.<\/p>\n\n

From Philadelphia to New York City<\/h2>\n

Freese began his career at the Philadelphia Union, his hometown club, but chances were limited behind their established goalkeeper. A move to New York City FC changed that, giving him a run of games and the platform to become a first-choice MLS keeper. The table below covers his club career in our database.<\/p>\n

Club<\/th>Starts<\/th>Saves<\/th>Clean sheets<\/th>Goals conceded<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Philadelphia Union<\/strong><\/td>12<\/td>33<\/td>0<\/td>17<\/td><\/tr>
New York City FC<\/strong><\/td>101<\/td>330<\/td>25<\/td>130<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n

What the numbers say<\/h2>\n

Freese’s New York City FC record is that of a busy, reliable keeper: 330 saves and 25 clean sheets across 101 starts. He is a steady shot-stopper inside and outside his box, and he is comfortable with the ball at his feet, acting as a sweeper behind a high line. That modern profile suits the way the United States want to play, building from the back rather than just clearing their lines.<\/p>\n\n

Matt Freese and the USMNT<\/h2>\n

For the United States, Freese is the goalkeeper head coach Mauricio Pochettino<\/a> has trusted with the gloves at a home World Cup, edging out the vastly experienced Matt Turner<\/a> for the starting job. He plays behind a settled center-back pairing of Chris Richards<\/a> and Tim Ream<\/a>, and his distribution helps turn defense into attack. See where he fits in our USMNT roster<\/a> guide.<\/p>\n\n

Freese’s role behind a high line<\/h2>\n

With the United States camped in Paraguay’s half, Freese’s job was less about shot-stopping and more about positioning. He started high to act as a sweeper behind a pushed-up defense, ready to mop up anything played in behind, and was largely a spectator as a result. Beaten only once all night and not required to make a single save, it was the kind of quiet, alert performance a keeper has to be ready for when his team dominates.<\/p>\n\n

USA 4-1 Paraguay and what is next<\/h2>\n

Freese had a quiet night in the opener, largely a spectator behind a dominant team as the United States beat Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi Stadium, and was beaten only once all night. Read the full USA vs Paraguay player ratings<\/a>. Planning to go? See our World Cup 2026 tickets<\/a> guide. For the bigger picture, see our World Cup 2026<\/a> hub and the latest World Cup 2026 winner odds<\/a>, with more at U.S. Soccer<\/a>. Must be 21+ and present in a state where betting is legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.<\/p>\n\n\n

The data behind Freese’s sweeper-keeper game<\/h2>\n

The article’s sweeper-keeper label holds up in the numbers. At New York City FC, Freese completed 48 of his 50 attempted sweeper actions, a 96 percent success rate that shows just how reliably he reads space behind a high line. His distribution backs it up too, with 595 accurate throws in open play and 393 accurate goal kicks, the building blocks of a side that plays out from the back.<\/p>\n

As a shot-stopper, his NYCFC haul splits into 229 saves from inside the box and 101 from outside, plus 139 diving saves and parries across 101 starts. He also gathered 58 high crosses, evidence of a keeper who commands his area as well as his line.<\/p>\n\n\n

Matt Freese in the USA’s run to the last 16<\/h2>\n

The United States beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 in the Round of 32 on 2 July at Levi’s Stadium, with Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman on target. Freese started and played the full 90 minutes, keeping a clean sheet to anchor the win. The USA reached the last 16, but their home World Cup ended there with a 4-1 defeat to Belgium, goalkeeper Matt Freese beaten four times on a chastening night.<\/p>\n\n\n

Who is Matt Freese?<\/strong>

Matt Freese is an American goalkeeper for New York City FC and the starting keeper for the USMNT at the World Cup 2026. Born in Pennsylvania, he came through the Philadelphia Union academy before establishing himself in MLS.<\/p><\/div>

What clubs has Matt Freese played for?<\/strong>

Freese came through the Philadelphia Union, where he was mostly a backup, before a move to New York City FC, where he became a first-choice goalkeeper in MLS.<\/p><\/div>

What is Matt Freese’s playing style?<\/strong>

He is a modern goalkeeper, a confident shot-stopper who is comfortable with the ball at his feet and acts as a sweeper behind the defense, helping the United States build from the back.<\/p><\/div>

How did Matt Freese play in the World Cup opener?<\/strong>

Freese started in goal in the 4-1 win over Paraguay and was largely untroubled behind a dominant team, beaten only once all night.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Matt Freese is the USMNT’s starting goalkeeper at the World Cup 2026. A look at the New York City FC keeper’s stats, career and his role for the US.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3588,"featured_media":11922,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"Matt Freese","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Matt Freese: USMNT Goalkeeper Profile | Squawka","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Matt Freese is the USMNT's starting goalkeeper at the World Cup 2026. 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