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The sting of the United States’ abrupt exit from the 2026 World Cup, following a 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the round of 16, continues to resonate deeply with goalkeeper Matt Freese.
He admits the memory is far from fading, and he’s not convinced it ever will.
“Big losses in tough moments are things you never really get over because they stay with you for the rest of your career,” Freese told The Associated Press ahead of the Major League Soccer All-Star Game in Charlotte. “They continue to motivate you for the rest of your career.”
Freese was at the center of a critical moment in the match, making a costly error when he rushed out of his box to clear a long ball, then hesitated under pressure. Belgium swiftly capitalized on the miscue, converting it into a goal that extended their lead to 3-1 in the 57th minute, effectively sealing the Americans’ fate.
The incident has not been forgotten by American soccer fans; in his first MLS match since the World Cup, the New York City FC goalkeeper was reportedly booed by fans every time he touched the ball during a game in Columbus, Ohio.
Despite the public scrutiny, Freese maintains a philosophical outlook.
“It’s important to not let bad things define you, but I think it’s also important not to let good things define you either,” he said. “It’s important to be a consistent presence with consistent energy.” Freese is one of four U.S. national team players selected for the upcoming MLS All-Star Game.
Veteran defender Tim Ream, another All-Star, openly acknowledges there’s no secret formula for the Americans to reach the World Cup quarterfinals. He points to one undeniable factor for success: relentless hard work.
“You put your head down and do as much as you possibly can,” Ream said. “And, at some point you will break through that barrier. It just takes work, more work and more work. … Before you know it, you’re past that.” Ream believes better days are ahead for the national team despite the recent disappointment.
Wing-back Max Arfsten shares this optimism, suggesting that the increased fan attention on the World Cup, with the majority of games played in the United States, will inspire more athletes in the country to embrace the sport.
“The next step for us is to keep growing the sport,” Arfsten said. “The more people that are playing, the better players there will be. The more competitiveness, the more players playing in the top leagues in Europe is important as well. I feel like all of those combined is going to lead to success.”
Ream added that players can hold two truths simultaneously regarding the World Cup: disappointment over their performance and “crashing out” against Belgium, alongside excitement for their earlier accomplishments.
“You can be proud of how much it galvanized the country, the people around it and the sport — and just how much fun it was,” Ream reflected. Freese echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of recognizing positive outcomes to inspire future generations to surpass the round of 16, reach the quarterfinals, and ultimately contend for the semifinals and finals.
Meanwhile, Charlotte is set to host the MLS All-Star Game for the first time at Charlotte FC owner Dave Tepper’s Bank of America Stadium. However, the league’s biggest star, Lionel Messi, will not participate.
Messi, who led Argentina to the World Cup final before their loss to Spain, is taking allotted time off before returning to Inter Miami CF, and has been replaced on the roster. He has recorded 12 goals and eight assists in MLS play this season.
Several players, including Ream, have noted a significant surge in fan interest in MLS games and soccer generally since the World Cup.
“We could see it while we were playing in the World Cup, but now it’s like I can’t leave my house,” Ream remarked, not as a complaint, but as an observation of the sport’s growing popularity.
“Being able to inspire more people to play is obviously secondary to what our job is, which is compete and win games, but it’s such a rewarding feeling knowing that so many more people are paying attention to our sport,” he concluded.
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