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Matt Freese

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Matt Freese
Image
Freese with New York City FC in 2026
Personal information
Full name Matthew Andrew Geary Freese
Date of birth (1998-09-02) September 2, 1998 (age 28)
Place of birth Wayne, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Position Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 New York City FC
Number 49
Youth career
2016–2017 Philadelphia Union
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Harvard Crimson 16 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017 Bethlehem Steel 0 (0)
2019–2022 Philadelphia Union 13 (0)
2019–2022 Philadelphia Union II 31 (0)
2023– New York City FC 104 (0)
International career‡
2019 United States U23 1 (0)
2025– United States 20 (0)
Medal record
Representing Image United States
Men's football
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Runner-up2025 Canada–United States
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of October 17, 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of September 26, 2026

Matthew Andrew Geary Freese (born September 2, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club New York City FC and the United States national team.

Youth career

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Born in Wayne, Pennsylvania, Freese went through the Philadelphia Union youth academy before appearing on the bench with Union reserve side, Bethlehem Steel, during the 2017 season. Not long after, Freese enrolled at Harvard, where his older brother Jack rowed heavyweight crew,[2] and played college soccer for the Harvard Crimson.[3][4] At Harvard, he found success against Ivy League opponents as a freshman and sophomore.[5][6][7] In 2018, he led the Ivy League with an average of 6 saves per game.[8][9]

Club career

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Philadelphia Union

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On December 21, 2018, it was announced that Freese would leave Harvard early and join Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union at the beginning of their 2019 season.[10][11]

Freese made his professional debut on April 19, 2019, coming on as a 54th-minute substitute for Andre Blake in a 3–0 home win against the Montreal Impact.[12]

On November 8, 2020, Freese made his lone start of the 2020 season against the New England Revolution on MLS Decision Day. He made one save and kept a clean sheet as the Union clinched their first trophy in club history, the Supporters' Shield.[13]

New York City FC

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On January 27, 2023, Freese was traded to New York City FC in exchange for a guaranteed $350,000 of General Allocation Money, with a possibility of an additional $400,000, as well as a percentage of a future transfer fee.[14] On December 27, 2024, Freese was named New York City FC's MVP (Most Valuable Player) for the 2024 season after finishing third in the MLS in saves and fourth in save percentage.[15] This marked the first time since 2021 that New York City FC gave out the award.[15]

International career

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2019: Youth level

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Freese represented the United States at the U-19 and U-23 levels. Freese was named to the final 20-player United States under-23 roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship in March 2021.[16]

2025: Senior debut and first CONCACAF Gold Cup

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Freese was called up to the United States national team by head coach Mauricio Pochettino ahead of the January 2025 camp in Florida with friendlies against Venezuela and Costa Rica, but did not play in either game.[17]

Freese was again called up by Pochettino to the national team for the June 2025 training camp in Chicago ahead of matches against Turkey and Switzerland.[18] Freese made his United States senior team debut against Turkey on June 7, 2025, where he allowed no goals and made three saves in a 90-minute performance. Freese was then included in the final 26-player roster for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he played in every match of the tournament. He kept two clean sheets in the group stage, and conceded a total of six goals across the competition.[19][20]

2026–present: First FIFA World Cup

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Image
Freese with the United States at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Freese was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[21]

With Freese, the United States finished top of Group D, with a 4–1 win against Paraguay, a 2–0 win against Australia, and a 2–3 defeat to Türkiye. They defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2–0 in the Round of 32, before being eliminated 1–4 by Belgium in the Round of 16.[22] During the match against Belgium, Freese made a significant error, leaving his goalkeeping area and mishandling the ball, which allowed Hans Vanaken to score.[23][24]

Personal life

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Freese is a devout Roman Catholic.[25]

Freese's paternal grandparents, Ernst and Elisabeth Freese, were German scientists who immigrated to the U.S. after World War II and worked for the National Institutes of Health. Freese's father, Andrew Freese, was a neurosurgeon who earned a Ph.D. in neurobiology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Freese attended Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

After taking leave from Harvard to join the Philadelphia Union, Freese completed his course work online during the COVID pandemic and graduated from Harvard in 2022 with a degree in Economics.[26]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played October 17, 2026[27][28]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bethlehem Steel 2017 United Soccer League 00—00——00
Philadelphia Union 2019 MLS 601000——70
2020 MLS 10—00——10
2021 MLS 60—10—0070
2022 MLS 001000—0010
Total 1302010—00160
Philadelphia Union II 2019 USL 80—00——80
2020 USL 70—00——70
2022 MLS Next Pro 160—00——160
Total 310—00—00310
New York City FC 2023 MLS 1001000—2[c]0130
2024 MLS 340—40—3[c]0410
2025 MLS 3100050—3[c]0390
2026 MLS 2902000—2[c]0330
Total 10403090—1001260
Career total 148050100001001730
  1. ↑ Includes U.S. Open Cup
  2. ↑ Includes MLS Cup playoffs
  3. 1 2 3 4 Appearances in Leagues Cup

International

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As of match played September 26, 2026[29]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
United States 2025130
202670
Total200

Honors

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Philadelphia Union

Individual

References

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  1. ↑ "Matt Freese". Philadelphia Union. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Jack Freese - 2012-13 - Men's Heavyweight Rowing". Harvard University. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Matt Freese". Harvard. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  4. ↑ mlssoccer. "How Matt Freese charted a breakout path at New York City FC | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  5. ↑ Scott, Katherine H. "Men's Soccer Falls 1-0 to Boston University in Defensive Showdown | Sports | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  6. ↑ Cuccia, Ronni. "Men's Soccer Falls in Overtime to Brown | Sports | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  7. ↑ McLoughlin, Eamon J. "Men's Soccer Falls 2-0 to Dartmouth in Hail, Rain | Sports | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  8. ↑ "2018 Men's Soccer - Conference Statistics". ivyleague.com. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  9. ↑ Cuccia, Ronni. "Men's Soccer Drops 2-1 Decision against Columbia | Sports | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Philadelphia Union sign Matt Freese to homegrown deal | Philadelphia Union".
  11. ↑ Cuccia, Ronni; McLoughlin, Eamon J. "Men's Soccer Goalkeeper Matt Freese Goes Pro | Sports | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  12. ↑ Zhu, Henry. "Former Harvard Goalkeeper Matt Freese Debuts for MLS's Philadelphia Union | Sports | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Recap: Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution 11/08/2020 | Matchcenter".
  14. ↑ "NYCFC land goalkeeper Matt Freese in trade with Philadelphia Union | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  15. 1 2 "Matt Freese named New York City FC's 2024 MVP". Hudson River Blue. December 27, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  16. ↑ "U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team Head Coach Jason Kreis Names Roster for Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship". www.ussoccer.com. March 11, 2021.
  17. ↑ Hudson River, Blue Staff. "Matt Freese called up to US Men's National Team". Hudson River Blue. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Pochettino Names 27-Player Roster for Training Camp ahead of June Matches Against Turkey and Switzerland". United States Soccer Federation. May 22, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Matt Freese National Team Stats, Goals, Records". FBref.com. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  20. ↑ Castañeda, Connor. "Ice in His Veins: Former Harvard Goalie Matt Freese Secures USA Quarterfinal Win | Sports | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Pulisic, McKennie spearhead USA squad". May 25, 2026. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
  22. ↑ Seattle, Peter Rutzler. "USA World Cup dream dies in muddle of own creation as Belgium run riot". Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  23. ↑ "World Cup 2026: USA vs Belgium - USA suffer 'total calamity' at the back to gift Belgium a third goal". BBC Sport. July 7, 2026. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  24. ↑ Owens, Jason (July 7, 2026). "World Cup: Disastrous U.S. sequence with goalie Matt Freese out of box allows Belgium to double lead in 4-1 win". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  25. ↑ "11 Catholic Soccer Stars at the 2026 World Cup: Meet the Players and Coaches Living Their Faith". ChurchPOP. July 7, 2026. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  26. ↑ "He's a Harvard grad who comes from a family of scientists. He's also the goalie who might lead the U.S. to World Cup glory". NBC News. June 2, 2026. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  27. ↑ Matt Freese at Soccerway
  28. ↑ "Matt Freese – MLS Profile". Major League Soccer.
  29. ↑ Matt Freese at National-Football-Teams.com
  30. ↑ Major League Soccer [@MLS] (November 8, 2020). "SUPPORTERS' SHIELD WINNERS @PhilaUnion win their first trophy in club history! #DOOP" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  31. ↑ Sigal, Jonathan (November 5, 2022). "Hollywood ending! LAFC win legendary MLS Cup 2022 over Philadelphia Union". Major League Soccer. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
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