Matt Freese is one of the rare footballers to graduate from the prestigious Harvard University - Photo: AFP
Matt Freese (27 years old) is the perfect example of combining professional sports and academics.
Excellent academic record and a powerful family background.
Matt Freese studied economics and computer science at Harvard University. After his sophomore year, despite signing a professional contract with Philadelphia Union in the MLS as a homegrown player, Freese completed his studies online and officially earned his bachelor's degree in economics in 2022.
Before attending Harvard, he also received the National Merit Scholar honorary scholarship and won a gold medal in the national Spanish language exam. Not only does he possess outstanding individual achievements, but this 1.93m tall goalkeeper also comes from a family with an admirable academic tradition.
Matt Freese's paternal grandparents were German-born scientists who worked at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). His father (Andrew Freese) is a neurosurgeon with two degrees from the prestigious Harvard University and a Ph.D. from MIT.
He is famous for successfully conducting the first human trial of gene therapy for neurological disease in 2001. His mother is also a graduate of Boston University and Tufts University, and the founder of a healthcare management company.
Matt Freese also directly applies the combination of scientific thinking and sportsmanship on the field. During his studies at Harvard, he conducted a research project on penalty shootouts. He applied this knowledge to the 2025 Gold Cup, successfully saving 3 out of 6 penalties against Costa Rica in the quarter-finals.
The US team celebrates after defeating Paraguay 4-1 in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup.
The US's starting goalkeeper at the World Cup.
Matt Freese rose through the ranks of the Philadelphia Union Soccer Academy, trained with the US U19 team, and had training stints with Manchester United. In 2023, he moved to New York City FC and gradually established himself in Major League Soccer (MLS).
In early 2025, Freese received his first call-up to the US national team. Although initially not as highly regarded as some other candidates, particularly Matt Turner (New England Revolution), his consistent performance and outstanding display at the Gold Cup earned him the trust of manager Mauricio Pochettino.
At the 2026 World Cup, goalkeeper Matt Freese wore the number 24 jersey and officially secured the starting position in the USA's opening match against Paraguay. In the USA's 4-1 victory over Paraguay, Freese did not face too many dangerous challenges thanks to good defensive coverage from the back line, especially the presence of Chris Richards.
The only goal conceded by the US team came when the entire defense lost concentration. Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill initiated an attack from his own half, allowing Maurício to unleash a powerful shot that beat Matt Freese. Although he didn't keep a clean sheet, Freese still made several safe saves, such as punching the ball away and making accurate saves to stabilize the game's tempo.
The 4-1 victory was a smooth start for the US team in their 2026 World Cup campaign on home soil, and also opened up a great opportunity for goalkeeper Matt Freese to continue proving his abilities in the upcoming matches.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cu-nhan-harvard-bat-chinh-o-world-cup-2026-20260615103543266.htm
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