Alex Freeman arrives to the World Cup 2026 stage ready for USMNT breakout

INGLEWOOD, Calif.— The youngest player on the U.S.

men’s national team may be one of its most critical at the World Cup.Alex Freeman was playing for Orlando City B, the MLS outfit’s developmental squad, just two years ago.Freeman, whose father Antonio had a decorated career as an NFL wide receiver, was as far as could be from the national team picture.The 21-year-old’s rise since then has been meteoric.

Freeman broke into Orlando’s lineup in March 2025, earned his first national team cap two months later and started six consecutive gamers in the Gold Cup final to gain an inside track for a World Cup spot, seemingly from nowhere.By the time the roster was announced, there was little question he would be on it, having moved from MLS to La Liga’s Villarreal late in the season.Not only that, but Freeman started and performed well in each of the last two USMNT friendlies — an obvious sign he will do the same at the World Cup.“I feel like for me, I’ve known how quick the rise has been,” Freeman said Thursday, one day before the U.S.

opener against Paraguay.“For me it’s how can I go and make the impact, knowing those are people that gave me the opportunity to move up the ranks and how can I give back to them by playing well in the World Cup? Just be playing how I want to play and having that personality.”Though he came up as a right back, and as a largely offensive player, Freeman’s role in Mauricio Pochettino’s system has been as the right center back in a back three, behind wingback Sergiño Dest.“I think we have a good combination on the right side,” Dest said during camp.

“I like to play with him as well.He’s strong, he’s a good defender.

Also we can switch sometimes, so that makes it even better if I’m on that side, because I can also go low and change with him.So it’s hard for opponents to defend us because we’re more dynamic.”Given the frailties the U.S.

seems to have on its back line — and given the way wingba...