IRVINE, Calif. — In all probability, goalkeeper will begin within the U.S. World Cup opener Friday in opposition to . He has, in any case, been Mauricio Pochettino’s main netminder for a 12 months, culminating with a 90-minute efficiency within the ultimate tuneup final weekend.
And if, in truth, the soft-spoken Pennsylvanian is within the lineup for the Group D debut at SoFi Stadium — the primary U.S. World Cup house match since 1994 and, by far, the most important second of his seven-year professional profession — it could add one other luminous achievement to his household’s historical past.
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“I dream of this chance, you’re employed for the chance, however you by no means know if it is going to come,” he mentioned this week. “I realized most likely 9 years in the past those that work onerous with out promise of reward are those that normally succeed.”
A World Cup project would punctuate a life nurturing each mind and physique.
Freese, 27, studied economics and pc science at Harvard and, after turning professional following his sophomore season, continued his schooling on-line and earned an economics diploma in 2022. His research included a analysis undertaking about penalty kicks — which he utilized in heroic style final summer time by saving three of ’s six makes an attempt in a Gold Cup quarterfinal.
Freese, in different phrases, is a great cookie however hardly the one educated member of his clan.
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His paternal grandparents, who had been German immigrants, had been scientists on the Nationwide Institutes of Well being within the Washington space.
Matt’s late father, Andrew, was a neurosurgeon with two levels from Harvard and a doctorate from MIT. In 2001, he carried out the primary profitable gene-therapy trial for neurological illness in a human. His mom, Marcia, has levels from Boston College and Tufts and based a medical administration firm.
Matt’s aunt, Katherine, is a College of Texas physics professor who has been “working to establish the darkish matter and darkish power that permeate the universe in addition to to construct a profitable mannequin for the early universe instantly after the Large Bang,” .
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Older brother Jack, a former Harvard rower, works in non-public fairness.
“Quite a lot of science, quite a lot of academia,” Matt mentioned. “It was positively fascinating rising up.”
In highschool, his mother and father prioritized teachers and “knew the way in which of getting me motivated within the classroom was to carry soccer as a reward.”
At Harvard, “balancing teachers and schooling, taking lessons, was one thing that occupied my time, occupied my thoughts, and gave a really pure launch off the sector that I believe at that age is important,” he mentioned. “It is completely different now. I understand how to deal with it, however at that time in my life, it was extremely essential.”
Matt Freese brings an Ivy League background and a 12 months as Mauricio Pochettino’s best choice into the ‘s World Cup opener. (John Dorton/USSF through Getty Photographs)
As of late, Freese’s precedence is solely soccer. A homegrown signing earlier than the 2019 Main League Soccer season, Freese began 13 matches over 4 years earlier than being traded to forward of the 2023 marketing campaign. A 12 months later, he was the starter and one of many league’s rising goalkeeping stars.
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The primary invitation to a nationwide crew camp got here in January 2025. On the time, he was behind not solely , the 2022 World Cup starter, however a number of different candidates. Pochettino summoned Freese once more earlier than final summer time’s Gold Cup and, after debuting in a pleasant in opposition to Türkiye, the keeper’s job was his to lose.
Over the previous 12 months, Freese has began 15 of 18 matches, with Turner receiving the opposite three assignments. Chicago’s , 22, is the third World Cup keeper.
Freese will put on No. 24 — the identical as former U.S. World Cup star wore throughout his membership profession. In MLS, Freese wears No. 49 in honor of his maternal grandfather, Jack Geary, who performed for the New York Bulldogs within the American Soccer League. (On the World Cup, the very best accessible quantity is 26.)
Howard has “achieved quite a lot of historic issues and actually helped his crew prior to now, and I’d love the chance to do the identical,” Freese mentioned. “He was clearly one of many folks I watched rising up, and so to have that very same quantity as him at a World Cup is fairly, fairly cool.”
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Freese would be a part of a notable checklist of U.S. World Cup goalkeepers, together with Corridor of Famers , Kasey Keller and Howard.
“I used to be a fan of that goalkeeping corps for a lot of my life – nonetheless am,” he mentioned. “It is an honor to be a part of that group to hopefully proceed that nice legacy.”
Rivals for the beginning position, Freese and Turner appear to have robust relationship.
“There is a wholesome, mutual respect between us, in fact, and regardless of the coach finally decides, we owe it to one another to respect that call and assist one another all the way in which until the top,” mentioned Turner, the starter who, from an analytics standpoint, is having a greater MLS season than Freese.
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Each appear well liked by teammates.
“Matt Freese has popped up over the past 12 months and a half, and it has been actually pleasing to observe,” midfielder mentioned. “Matt Turner could also be taking a step again, however he is been so extremely supportive of Matt Freese and the crew, placing the crew first. Credit score to each of them. Look, they’re competing on the finish of the day, however they need what’s finest for the crew.”
Although the World Cup is looming, Freese has caught to his routine. On the street with the nationwide crew, he brings his kettle from house and makes his favourite tea, an natural chamomile free leaf. He additionally packs his personal alarm clock.
“I like holding issues constant, as a result of if it really works for you in small moments, then the sport itself does not change,” Freese mentioned. “And so it helps me not less than take care of these large moments in that stress.”
Perhaps, he’s about to face the most important second and massive stress.