United States goalkeeper Matt Freese has disclosed that he once declined an opportunity to join Manchester United in order to prioritize his education. The 27-year-old, who made his senior international debut only last year, is now the first-choice goalkeeper for the US at the 2026 World Cup.
Family decision shaped career path
The Pennsylvania-born shot-stopper, who plays for MLS side New York City FC, has been a steady presence in goal during the tournament, conceding just once in victories over Paraguay and Australia. Coached by former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino, the US have secured their place in the round of 32 as Group D winners, regardless of their final group match against Türkiye.
Freese's career could have taken a different direction while he was coming through the Philadelphia Union academy. He received an enticing apprenticeship offer from Manchester United, but his parents wanted him to focus on academics rather than football, so the move never materialized.
“It was largely a family decision,” Freese told Hudson River Blue. “There were some tough conversations between me and my parents about this one. There was a clear path that I wanted to go on, but I had to respect what they wanted. They sacrificed so much for me, so I had to repay that and honour what they wanted and then, when the time was right, make my decision for myself.”
Harvard education and MLS career
Instead of joining United, Freese enrolled at Harvard University, one of the world's most prestigious institutions. He studied economics while playing for the Harvard Crimson football team. He left university a year early to join his boyhood club Philadelphia Union as a homegrown player ahead of the 2019 MLS season, making his professional debut months later.
“It was very clear to me that in order to have the career I wanted to have on the field and to achieve things that I wanted to achieve on the field, the earlier my career could start, the better,” he said. “It was a pretty natural decision – everyone was on the same page.”
Freese continued his studies remotely and graduated with a degree in economics from Harvard in 2022. He struggled for regular game time in Philadelphia behind Jamaican international Andre Blake and was traded to New York City FC in 2023 for a $350,000 (£264,000) fee. The move proved transformative: Freese was named New York City's Most Valuable Player for the 2024 season and received his first international call-up a month later.
World Cup impact and future
Now the US No.1 at the World Cup, Freese has conceded only one goal in two group matches, helping the team to an impressive start on home soil. The US are guaranteed to advance to the round of 32 as group winners.
Freese's decision to prioritize education over an early move to Manchester United has ultimately paid off, as he now represents his country on the world stage while holding a degree from Harvard.
