Team USA goalie Matt Freese addressed his brutal misplay in the Americans’ heartbreaking loss to Belgium in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“Obviously disappointed for my involvement and error in judgment on the third goal,” Freese, 27, told reporters after the game on Monday, July 6. “It’s part of the position. I know the guys in front of me did everything they could today to get the win. So proud of them and wish that moment was different and wish the result was different.”
The dreadful moment came in the game’s 57th minute, when Freese raced out of his goal box and attempted to intercept a long ball before being met by Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere. Freese dragged his foot in front of the ball, knocking it around before Belgian midfielder Hans Vanaken ultimately scored to give his team a 3-1 lead.
“I felt [De Ketelaere] so close I thought he was gonna kick my leg, and so I tried to get out of it,” Freese explained.
Belgium went on to win 4-1, ending Team USA’s World Cup journey in dominating fashion.
“This hurts,” Freese said. “This moment stings more than probably any other moment in my life.”
He added, “I know this is a step along a longer journey, and I know there’s big things to come from this federation and this group. This is one step — it’s a painful step, but it is a step regardless.”
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JULY 06: Charles De Ketelaere of Belgium competes for the ball against Matt Freese of the United States during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 06, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. Hans Vanaken of Belgium scored on the play. Alex Grimm/Getty Images
With little room for error against Belgium, Team USA midfielder Tyler Adams admitted that Freese’s error was a death knell.
“I think when you concede goals that easily against a team of that quality and that caliber, it’s going to be difficult,” Adams, 27, said after the game. “We gave them good chances and half chances, and they finished them.”
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Moments after leaving the pitch, Team USA veteran defender Tim Ream — who failed to block Vanaken’s shot with Freese out of the goal — said he had “so many different thoughts and emotions.”
“It’s just one of those that I probably won’t be able to personally think about for a few days until I really sit back and allow the emotions to subside and look at it from an analytical and technical standpoint,” Ream, 38, added.
Team USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino, meanwhile, said it was far more than Freese’s lapse in judgment that led to his team’s downfall.
“It was a very bad day,” he told reporters. “It wasn’t our day, collectively or individually. In a tournament like the World Cup, when that happens in a knockout stage, you are out and you need to go home.”
