New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese was called up to the US Men's National Team by head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Freese will join the rest of the squad for the January camp in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
It's the first Senior Team call-up for Freese, who had three caps with the US U-23. The 26-year-old had a breakout season with New York City last year, establishing himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the league. This call-up caps an impressive transformation for the Harvard graduate, who started the 2023 season on the bench after signing with New York City.
Traditionally, the January camp provides an opportunity for domestic-based players who caught the eye of the USMNT coaching staff but who have been on the fringes of making the squad. Freese is one of 10 uncapped players to get a call-up, joining Inter Miami's Drake Callendar (0 caps), Columbus Crew's Patrick Schulte (2 caps), and Colorado Rapids' Zack Steffen (29 caps) in the goalkeeping pool.
Matthew Mangam
The USMNT will play friendlies against Venezuela on Saturday, January 18 at 3 pm ET at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, and against Costa Rica on Wednesday, January 22 at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando.
Potentially, Freese could face New York City teammate and Costa Rica international Alonso Martínez on January 22.
Snubbed no more
Last season, Freese's 8.9 goals prevented was second only to MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Kristijan Kahlina, and his save rate of 73.4% was fourth-best in the league. Freese made 135 saves in 2024, which puts him behind only John McCarthy of LA Galaxy (138) and Brad Guzan of Atlanta United (137). He was named the 2025 New York City MVP by the club in December, marking the first time the award was handed out since Taty Castellanos won it in 2021.
Matthew Mangam
And yet the goalkeeper remained "criminally underrated," in the words of Hudson River Blue contributor Matthew Mangam, when he was snubbed by Pochettino, after he passed him over for the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals in November. "Freese does not get the recognition he deserves," Mangam wrote. "Whether it's from MLS or Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT, Freese's stellar performances seem to only be praised by NYCFC fans, while everyone else turns a blind eye to it."
Matt Freese | Best saves vs FC Cincinnati, Round One
Seemingly, that is now changing.
