The Concacaf Gold Cup has potentially unveiled a new standout for the United States Men`s National Team in Matt Freese. This unexpected goalkeeping talent became a key figure by saving three penalties in a sudden-death shootout against Costa Rica, playing a vital role in the USMNT`s advancement to the Gold Cup semifinals. His presence on the pitch, let alone his heroic performance, was highly improbable. Entering the training camp, Freese was considered the third-choice keeper, behind likely USMNT starter Matt Turner. Former starter Zack Steffen was also expected to feature, aiming for his first start under manager Mauricio Pochettino. However, Steffen withdrew from the national team camp due to injury, and Patrick Schulte, a potential replacement, was also unavailable due to injury. With a clear understanding of Turner`s capabilities, Pochettino opted to give Freese an opportunity as he continues to evaluate his roster.
Sunday`s match against Costa Rica fully demonstrated Freese`s unique strengths to the manager. Freese has a long-standing practice of analyzing penalty kicks. After accurately predicting the direction of most attempts and nearly stopping Francisco Calvo`s shot during regulation time, his abilities became undeniable. Even more impressive than his near-save in regulation was his successful stop of Calvo`s penalty in the shootout, where he remained central as Calvo struck the ball directly at him. Freese credited his goalkeeping coach, Toni Jimenez, for the advice that led to the decisive save, but his extensive preparation studying the Costa Rican players` tendencies clearly paid off.
“Penalties are my specialization,” Freese stated after the game. “On the flight here to Minnesota, I was studying penalties. I’ve been preparing for them all week and was ready if required. The one I didn`t move on was a suggestion from my goalkeeper coach, Toni Jimenez.”
Who is Matt Freese?
Hailing from Wayne, Pennsylvania, Freese is one of several players in this USMNT squad with ties to the Philadelphia Union organization. After spending time with Bethlehem Steel in the USL, Freese decided to attend Harvard University, playing soccer there from 2017 to 2018 before signing a homegrown contract with the Union in 2019. His time at Harvard proved significantly beneficial, contributing to his Gold Cup success.
“I actually completed a very extensive research project on penalty kicks while in college,” Freese explained. “Being able to draw upon that kind of detailed work, dealing with statistics and data, reading the game, and observing players` hips and movements – that`s incredibly valuable.”
Combining his academic research with his practical experience gained over the years makes it clear why Freese possesses such a strong aptitude for saving penalties.
Freese made his senior debut for the Union in April 2019, coming on as a substitute in a 3-0 victory over CF Montreal. He would go on to make 13 appearances for the Union`s first team, though he spent most of his time playing for their MLS Next Pro affiliate, Union II. Behind a top goalkeeper like three-time Goalkeeper of the Year Andre Blake, first-team opportunities were limited. However, one specific aspect of MLS Next Pro play significantly helped Freese prepare for high-pressure moments.
In MLS Next Pro, any match that ends in a draw proceeds to a penalty shootout, allowing teams to earn two points instead of one. This rule is designed to provide young players with authentic shootout experience under competitive conditions, which is difficult to replicate in training. In 2022 with Philadelphia Union II, Freese played 16 games and was successful in 3 out of the 4 shootouts he participated in.
In January 2023, Freese was traded to New York City FC following Sean Johnson`s departure. He quickly earned the starting position and has since become one of the top goalkeepers in MLS over the past couple of seasons. Freese was a finalist for Goalkeeper of the Year in the 2024 season, a campaign that also saw him win a penalty shootout in the playoffs against Cincinnati FC and split results in U.S. Open Cup shootouts (1 win, 1 loss). He ultimately finished runner-up to Kristijan Kahlina for the award. That season significantly raised Freese`s profile.
For those keeping count, Sunday`s shootout victory against Costa Rica brings his professional shootout record to six wins from eight attempts.
Breaking Into the USMNT Picture
Called up by Pochettino for the January 2025 camp, Freese didn`t make an appearance but impressed enough to be invited back for the July friendlies against Turkiye and Switzerland. Freese made his senior international debut in the match against Turkiye (a loss) and has now retained his spot for the Gold Cup, where he has received extended playing time under Pochettino. Despite having limited youth appearances for the USMNT due to the depth of goalkeeping talent, Freese has fully capitalized on his opportunity and is rapidly climbing the national team ranks.
Can Freese Be the World Cup Starter?
If Matt Turner cannot secure regular playing time at his club, the starting goalkeeper position for the USMNT could become open. Pochettino has emphasized that players need consistent club minutes to earn opportunities with the national squad, and he values strong performance regardless of the league level. Giving Freese extended minutes reinforces this philosophy. However, it remains uncertain exactly how much Freese has improved his standing within the team during the Gold Cup.
While the shootout was a highlight, Freese has posted a 66.7% save percentage and a -0.18 goals prevented metric from open play during the tournament. This doesn`t solely reflect on him, as defensive rotations and errors play a role. However, he is primarily making expected saves rather than single-handedly winning games with spectacular stops from open play. A standout performance leveraging the momentum from the shootout could change this perception, but healthy returns for Schulte and Steffen would provide significant competition, especially if all three remain in MLS leading up to the 2026 World Cup.
This situation presents Pochettino with a challenging decision, particularly as the goalkeeper position has historically been a stable area for the USMNT. Faced with comparable options, the choice may come down to which keeper`s style best fits Pochettino`s tactical preferences. Freese`s inclusion in three consecutive camps certainly helps his case. However, if the World Cup were to start today, it`s likely still Matt Turner`s job. Freese and others have less than a year to alter that situation, and they are actively pushing Turner for the spot.
Even if he doesn`t ultimately secure the starting role, having a penalty shootout specialist as a backup is a valuable asset for any manager. Freese`s unique background and skillset mean he can contribute significantly to this team, even if not as the primary starter. This is an exciting development and a testament to Pochettino`s willingness to experiment and Freese`s ability to develop a specialized skill.
