When the US Men’s National Team took the field against Paraguay on June 12, the man between the posts wasn’t a product of a European academy or a household name plucked from the Premier League. It was Matt Freese, a 27-year-old New York City FC goalkeeper who once roamed the campus of Harvard University. The US won 4-1, and Freese played all 90 minutes.
From Cambridge to the World Cup
Freese, born in Wayne, Pennsylvania, enrolled at Harvard in 2016. He played 16 matches for the Crimson and earned Second Team All-Ivy honors. He left Harvard after two years to pursue professional soccer.
His first stop was the Philadelphia Union, where he spent years largely as a backup. He eventually moved to New York City FC. During the 2025 MLS season, Freese posted a career-best eight clean sheets.
His form earned him consistent call-ups to the senior national team. He’s accumulated 16 caps since 2025.
