The U.S. men’s national soccer team saw their World Cup dreams dashed in the Round of 16. Goalkeeper Matt Freese made a critical error allowing Belgium to take a 3-1 lead. This mistake was widely criticized, impacting Freese deeply.

“It’s just so difficult for me to hear that because if people were to see this group on a day-to-day basis and spend time with these guys more personally, they would see how badly we wanted it,” Freese shared with ESPN.

Following the match in Seattle, Freese appeared dejected. The 27-year-old reflected on the depth of desire he and his teammates had to succeed. For two years, he dreamed of representing his country with pride.

Freese explained that the team’s elimination left them in shock. The emotional toll was compounded by how much the group felt connected to their fans. The shared experience of playing the World Cup was profound; they didn’t want it to end.

Despite the setback, Freese believes that they can use this painful experience to drive future success. “We’ve got to find a way to turn this elimination into motivation,” he stated. The goal is now to come back stronger, learning from this experience.

As Freese prepares to continue his career with New York City FC, his focus is set on future aspirations, particularly the 2030 World Cup. “I want to be back there and to do it better,” he said, clearly setting his sights on future accomplishments.