U.S. Men’s National Team coach Mauricio Pochettino unveiled his 26-man roster Tuesday for a potentially generational World Cup. The team features veterans, fresh faces and more than a few surprises.
But who made the cut for the U.S., which opens in the World Cup on June 12 against Paraguay? How did they get there? And what are they known for? Here’s a breakdown of the USMNT roster, starting with the goalkeepers:
Matt Freese: The Gentleman Scholar
Wayne, Pennsylvania | Age: 27 | Team: New York City FC (MLS)
National team appearances: 14 | Known for: Ivy League intelligence
The Harvard-educated goalkeeper got his USMNT breakthrough in January 2025. He quickly became one of Pochettino’s most trusted figures thanks to his coolness under pressure and impressive shot-stopping abilities. Nobody saves penalties quite like Freese does. His approach to shootouts is downright academic.
“I actually did a very long research project in college about penalty kicks,” Freese told the media after saving three of them to send the USMNT to the 2025 Gold Cup semifinals. “To be able to rely on that type of thing and deal with a lot of statistics and stuff like that, read the game and read their hips and things like that, is massive.”