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Perhaps the U.S. has truly become a soccer nation, or at least, that is the silver lining Matt Freese has chosen to embrace.
The starting goalkeeper for the U.S. men's national team had delivered a strong 2026 World Cup run heading into the round of 16, but everything unraveled in the match against Belgium. To be fair, no American player performed at his best during the 4–1 defeat; however, Freese's blunder stood out as the most glaring and most damaging of the evening.
Just before the hour mark, Freese made a poor touch outside of the box, allowing Belgian forward Charles De Ketelaere to reclaim possession and lay the ball off to teammate Hans Vanaken, who slotted it into a largely unguarded net for Belgium's third goal of the night.
That single mistake, putting the visitors two goals clear, effectively sealed the fate of the USMNT, who lost the belief needed to mount a comeback. It was a gut-wrenching moment for supporters as well, many of whom had grown convinced the Stars and Stripes were destined for the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.
Fans have been slow to forgive the incident, and when Freese returned to action for MLS's New York City FC last week, he was greeted with loud boos at Columbus Crew's stadium each time he touched the ball. The 27-year-old, surprisingly, was actually thankful for it.
Freese Speaks Out on World Cup Criticism
"Criticism comes with the territory," Freese told Sports Illustrated during 2026 MLS All-Star week. "If people weren't criticizing you, it means they didn't care. And that in itself is an honor.
"That might sound strange, but receiving criticism is an honor because it means people are invested. It means the fans want more, and believe me, we want more too. We want to be the best team in the world. We want to win the World Cup, and with New York, I want to win the MLS Cup.
"So whenever there's criticism or negative pressure, it means that people care, and believe me, I agree with them. I hold high expectations for myself and for every team I represent."
The weight of fan expectations is actually something Freese welcomes, as he thrives under it. "I hate losing, so I think it's an honor to play under that kind of pressure. It doesn't affect me negatively. If anything, it motivates me. It inspires me...It makes you want to repay that support."
Freese will have a chance to bounce back on Wednesday night in Charlotte at the MLS All-Star Game, before resuming regular MLS action on Friday. The USMNT is set to return during the September international window, where Freese will be determined to cement his starting spot despite the setback against Belgium.