While Scott said he didn\u2019t instantly earmark a teenaged Freese as a future World Cup goalkeeper, he wasn\u2019t surprised that it happened, given Freese\u2019s outstanding work ethic, intelligence, maturity and meticulous focus on improving his weaknesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cI actually remember before Matt joined us, I saw him play one of his last games for his former club, he got injured in the first half and he hurt one of his arms,\u201d Scott recalled. Freese was at\u00a0Radnor Soccer Club<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0FC Europa<\/a>\u00a0before Penn Fusion. \u201cHe proceeded to play the whole game one-armed and he was still pulling off incredible saves. He\u2019s just such a great athlete, a great goalkeeper.\u201d<\/p>\n Scott recalled that Freese would be the player winning all the fitness tests at Penn Fusion, which was not something you\u2019d expect from a goalkeeper. Freese also built a brotherly relationship with fellow Episcopal student AJ Marcucci,\u00a0now a goalkeeper with New York Red Bulls<\/a>, that made them both constantly strive to improve their game.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes when you have players of that talent, it\u2019s more making sure you don\u2019t mess anything up with them, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Scott said. \u201cIt\u2019s providing the right environment where they can prosper and learn with each other, with us and their teammates. The right experience to set up to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n U.S. national team goalkeeper Matt Freese (third from left) while his was playing youth soccer with Penn Fusion Soccer Academy in West Chester. (Courtesy of Jamie Scott)<\/p>\n After Freese played for Penn Fusion and the Union\u2019s academy, he was\u00a0convinced to pursue academics and soccer<\/a>\u00a0at his father\u2019s alma mater, Harvard University. Freese left college to go pro after three semesters, joining the Union on a homegrown deal in 2018. Freese was a back-up for Jamaican goalkeeper Andre Blake, but was on the field for the team\u2019s Supporters\u2019 Shield-clinching win in 2020.<\/p>\n In 2023, he was traded to rivals New York City FC, where he has faced off against the Union regularly, being on the losing side of the Union\u2019s\u00a0second-ever Supporter\u2019s Shield win last October<\/a>, but getting some revenge in the\u00a0Eastern Conference semifinals<\/a>\u00a0and in the\u00a0Union\u2019s home-opener this season in March<\/a>.<\/p>\n Not content with just a career between the goalposts,\u00a0Freese did later get his Harvard degree<\/a>, by taking online classes during the pandemic. He also serves on the executive board of Major League Soccer\u2019s Player Association, and gives time and resources to Penn Fusion and other youth programs in Pennsylvania and New York.<\/p>\n Penn Fusion held a World Cup watch party to cheer on the U.S. team and celebrate Freese, as well the three other Union products on the team. Fortunately, it was for\u00a0the team\u2019s 2-nil win over Australia<\/a>, where Freese kept a clean sheet.<\/p>\n Soccer can be cruel towards goalkeepers. While a striker\u2019s missed shots get easily overlooked by the goals that they scored, a goalie\u2019s great saves are quickly negated by the ones they let in.<\/p>\n United States\u2019 Matt Freese reacts after Belgium scored their fourth goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Belgium in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo\/Abbie Parr)<\/p>\n Couple that with an online environment that needs to be constantly fed hot takes, while setting poor barriers from thoughtless, reprehensible comments and young people\u2019s access to those, and it\u2019s enough to make someone feel like the whole world is against them.<\/p>\n However, Scott isn\u2019t worried about Freese.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s built to bounce back. He\u2019s built to learn and \u2014 as much as it\u2019s a clich\u00e9 \u2014 I know he\u2019ll be better for his experience of playing this World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n