When Alex Freeman made his U.S. men's national team debut against Turkiye on June 7, his father Antonio Freeman—a former NFL All-Pro and Super Bowl champion—couldn't hold back tears. It was a powerful moment for the family.
"It just gives me chills," Antonio said. "He has on a USA jersey. He's representing his country. That's probably the top level of recognition you could possibly get."
The 20-year-old right-back started in the Americans' opening Gold Cup win over Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday. With regular starter Sergiño Dest still recovering from a torn ACL, Freeman has a golden opportunity to catch coach Mauricio Pochettino's eye.
From Unknown to National Team Starter
Freeman's rise has been nothing short of remarkable. Before this season, he had played just 11 minutes of first-team league soccer. His emergence was so unexpected that even his teammates were caught by surprise.
"Alex, to be honest, I had no idea who you were before you got called up," American midfielder Luca de la Torre admitted with a smile during a news conference.
Unlike his father who shined in the NFL for nine seasons, Alex chose a different path. "Growing up I always got asked if football was the path, but when I was younger I always had a secret love for soccer," he explained.
His mother Rochelle reveals Alex didn't want to follow in his father's football footsteps. "He just wanted to make his own lane and his own path," she said.
Rapid Development at Orlando City
After being rejected by Inter Miami's youth academy, Freeman found a home with Orlando City thanks to his former Weston FC coach Javier Carrillo. The move meant leaving home at just 15 years old during the pandemic.
"I still have PTSD from that 'cause I wasn't done raising him," his mother joked.
Freeman's professional journey began with Orlando City B in 2022. He made his MLS debut in April 2023 as a late substitute and has since claimed the starting right-back position this season.
Pochettino has been impressed with what he's seen. "Alex is player with little experience, but in soccer the desire, the capacity and the talent usually rise above experience," the coach noted.
For bettors watching the Gold Cup and looking ahead to World Cup qualifiers, Freeman represents an interesting prospect. His rapid rise could significantly impact the USMNT's defensive stability and attacking options from the right flank.
Freeman is now competing for one of likely two right-back spots in the World Cup squad alongside more established names like Dest, Joe Scally, and several others. Pochettino is currently evaluating about 60 players before narrowing his focus for autumn friendlies.
"These camps, these games, I feel like it's just motivation for me to earn Pochettino's trust," Freeman said.
The young defender credits his NFL star father for teaching him valuable habits about training, nutrition, and lifestyle. However, they no longer play soccer together.
"At that point I realized: You're going to hurt yourself out here," Antonio laughed. Father and son now stick to shooting basketballs in the backyard instead.
