Matt Freese

Profile

Freese is the breakout goalkeeping story of this cycle, a Harvard-educated keeper who turned a 2023 trade to NYCFC into a place on the World Cup roster. He became a national hero at the 2025 Gold Cup, saving three penalties in the quarterfinal shootout against Costa Rica to out-duel Keylor Navas. His penalty-stopping reputation gives the USMNT a genuine weapon if knockout matches go the distance.