This is the first installment of our 2025 Midterm Reports for the New York City FC squad. You'll find past midterm reports and final grades here.
New York City FC star Matt Freese is following up his 2024 breakout with a solid 2025. The 6-foot-3 goalkeeper was snubbed by the MLS and Mauricio Pochettino last season, missing out on the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award and his first international appearance, but things are looking brighter this year as Freese joins the USMNT this week for two friendlies.
Consistent stats again
Freese finished the 2024 season with a 73.4 save percentage, the fourth-best in MLS, prevented 8.9 goals, the second-highest tally in the league, and saved the third-most shots (119), but only kept five clean sheets — arguably the sole reason Freese didn't get the credit he deserved.
This season, Freese's statistics aren't as high. He currently has a 73.7 save percentage (9th in MLS), has 54 saves (6th in MLS), and prevented just 1.6 goals (10th in MLS). But he already recorded six clean sheets — third-most in MLS — surpassing last year's tally with half of the season left to play.
Against strong offensive sides like Columbus, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and the Red Bulls, New York City's backline stayed sharp while Freese made important saves to earn the clean sheet. Freese now has 19 saves against the Eastern Conference's Top 5 teams and recorded three clean sheets.
Freese is still having a good season despite not being in the upper echelon statistically. But other goalkeepers, such as New England's Aljaž Ivačič, Minnesota's Dayne St. Clair, and San Diego's CJ dos Santos, are playing lights out at the moment, similarly to how Freese did in 2024. Freese's numbers are good, but not at the level of these goalkeepers — he's still having a consistent season and making saves when needed.
Chance for first USMNT appearance
With Freese's impressive 2024 season, many expected the Wayne, PA, native to earn his first-ever USMNT call-up in November 2024, but Pochettino looked elsewhere.
Freese had to wait until January for his first-ever USMNT Senior Team call-up, but he sat on the bench in friendlies against Costa Rica and Venezuela. But Freese could make his first USMNT appearance in friendlies against Türkiye on June 7 or Switzerland on June 10. Pochettino called up the usual starter, Matt Turner, as well as Freese and Chicago's Chris Brady. Colorado's Zack Steffen was also named to the roster, but he missed his last three league games due to an abdominal injury that is expected to keep him sidelined until mid-June.
There's a good chance Pochettino lets Freese and Brady each get a chance in the friendlies and keeps Turner on the roster for veteran experience. Turner has been the first-choice starter in recent years, but he was in goal just four times this past year for Crystal Palace, and he has yet to appear in a Premier League match.
Following 2-0 win over the Red Bulls I asked Matt Freese if he’s confident he’ll be on the #USMNT Gold Cup roster when it comes out next week + if impressing the national team has been on his mind lately “I’m hopeful that I’ll be included, I’m really confident I can play at that level…”
— Andrew Leigh (@andrewkleigh.bsky.social) May 17, 2025 at 8:44 PM
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Freese has spoken before about being confident in earning a spot on the USMNT, saying in part, "I really hope I'm included, I'm really confident that I'm able to play at that level, confident that I'm in that group."
The USMNT's Concacaf Gold Cup roster consists of 26 players, meaning one of the 27 players called up for the June friendlies will be cut. If things go well for Freese, he has a solid chance to make the Gold Cup squad.
If that happens, NYCFC will be without its starting shot-stopper on June 12 against Atlanta United. Should the United States advance in the tournament, he could also miss the June 28 match at CF Montréal and the July 3 home game against Toronto FC.
Rest of 2025 outlook
So far, Freese has done exactly what is expected of him: Save shots and keep NYCFC in every game. He hasn't been at fault for any of the goals New York City conceded, and he's shown up in every game, especially against the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
Maybe Freese won't win MLS Goalkeeper of the Year due to the exceptional performances from St. Clair and dos Santos, but he remains one of the best shot-stoppers in the league. He has grown into the season after some early stumbles, and been consistently good in goal for New York City in recent games. Safe to say, he once again is one of the most important players on the team, and one of the main reasons why they're in the playoff race today.
