Baltimore native and Villarreal CF defender Alex Freeman will be on the U.S. men’s national team in the FIFA World Cup, which begins on Friday, June 12 against Paraguay at 9 p.m. EST for the Americans.
“As a kid, you strive for these moments and knowing that I’m able to go and represent my country on our home soil, in the biggest tournament in the world, I feel like it’s something that you can’t fathom,” Freeman said on Glenn Clark Radio June 1. “But for me it’s so amazing that I’m able to kind of congratulate myself for the whole journey I’ve been on.”
The 21 year-old defender is the son of All-Pro and Super Bowl XXXI-winning wide receiver Antonio Freeman, who played nine years in the NFL, mostly with the Green Bay Packers. Despite his father’s NFL legacy, Freeman chose soccer as his passion.
Freeman was with his father in Spain when he got the news of making USMNT’s roster in May.
“You see him at all of the games, you see him everywhere,” Freeman said. “Just knowing he has that support and love that’s growing for the game as well. He didn’t really grow up playing it, but he’s just learning more and more about it. It means so much to me that he wants to learn about it. It means so much in that way that he wants to be a part of my journey and part of my success.”
Freeman was born in Baltimore, but his family relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and he attended American Heritage School in Plantation, Fla. He had a chance to play in front of friends and family though, when he played for Orlando City in MLS.
“Last year when I was playing [in] D.C., it was kind of emotional because they had a whole suite and about 30 people to come and see me play,” Freeman said. “It felt like [I was] able to make them proud, and make them realize how much potential I have not only as a player, but as a person off the field.”
Freeman enjoyed a breakout season with Orlando City in 2025, scoring six goals and dishing out three assists. That allowed him to earn MLS All-Star and MLS Best XI selections along with MLS Young Player of the Year.
Freeman said last year with Orlando gave him the confidence to be his own person and player on the field.
“Those moments made me realize that, ‘Wow, I can play against the best in the world, but can I be consistent with it now?'” he said.
In January, Freeman transferred to Villarreal CF in La Liga, making his debut in a 4-1 victory against RCD Espanyol.
“Getting that grasp of European football before the World Cup, I feel like, was perfect,” Freeman said. “It kind of gave me a different kind of coaching aspects and different kind of philosophies that I needed to be able to come and perform at the World Cup.”
A few months later, he received a call informing him that he was selected to USMNT’s roster.
Freeman said he believes his biggest strength is being able to adapt to new environments thanks to his family.
“I feel like they’ve been able to adapt in different environments, and I’ve been able to grow up and see that,” Freeman said. “It’s something that’s going to be very vital in my soccer career, and just be able to adapt to different scenarios.”
The June 12 game will take place in Inglewood, Calif., at SoFi Stadium.
“[Our] support system is so big and so great and joyful,” Freeman said. “Knowing that you have that behind you in every step and situation just means so much to us and makes us more confident in ourselves.”
For more from Freeman, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of The US Men’s National Soccer Team