'Secret love for soccer' put Freeman on U.S. path

AUSTIN, Texas -- United States and Orlando City SC fullback Alex Freeman said helium had a "secret emotion for soccer" increasing up aft not pursuing the aforesaid sporting footsteps arsenic his father, erstwhile NFL subordinate Antonio Freeman.

"Growing up, I ever got asked if [American] shot was the path, but erstwhile I was younger, I ever had a concealed emotion for soccer, and I consciousness similar it was much than immoderate different sport," said the 20-year-old to media up of a Gold Cup lucifer vs. Saudi Arabia. "I had to pick, and I deliberation shot was the wide prime by far."

Thanks to an ongoing breakout MLS play that has included 2 appearances successful the league's "Team of the Matchday" honors, the lad of the Super Bowl champion has forged his ain way with a USMNT debut this twelvemonth and a spot successful the 2025 Gold Cup.

Freeman started successful a 5-0 thrashing of Trinidad and Tobago successful the tournament-opener for the U.S. connected Sunday, and looks acceptable to commencement erstwhile again against Saudi Arabia connected June 19 astatine Q2 Stadium.

"What's happening this year, I consciousness similar it's an honor. I consciousness similar it's a blessing," said Freeman. "Obviously the World Cup successful 2026 is ever thing that I'm going to enactment to."

Freeman besides played hoops arsenic a kid. Alex's ma rejects the conception she directed him distant from American football.

"The existent communicative is Alex didn't privation to play shot and helium didn't privation to archer his dada that," Alex Freeman's ma Rochelle Hinkle said. "They each usage maine arsenic an excuse. He conscionable wanted to marque his ain lane and his ain path. He didn't have, I guess, the words to accidental it then."

Regardless of however the prime was made, the erstwhile All-Pro wide receiver and Super Bowl champion said helium got chills erstwhile helium saw his lad Alex locomotion onto the tract connected June 7 to marque his U.S. debut against Turkey.

"He has connected a USA jersey," Antonio Freeman said aft the game. "He's representing his country. That's astir apt the apical level of designation you could perchance get."

As for Freeman's U.S. teammate Luca de la Torre, who is besides vying for a World Cup spot, the midfielder was grateful for his clip with MLS broadside San Diego FC, which has helped support him successful the USMNT picture.

"I'm truly blessed to beryllium determination and it's fixed maine the accidental to get bushed and to beryllium called up to the nationalist squad and to support playing games, which is truly each that immoderate subordinate tin inquire for," said De la Torre.

Currently connected indebtedness successful MLS from LaLiga's Celta Vigo, the midfielder besides said it's excessively aboriginal to sermon whether helium believes helium should enactment successful San Diego oregon not up of adjacent year's World Cup.

"I deliberation astatine the infinitesimal that determination is excessively acold away. I'm focused connected each time and the adjacent accidental to bid oregon to play a game," said the midfielder. "San Diego has been large for me. I emotion playing there. I played a lot. I person bushed present and fitness, truthful it's been a large concern truthful far."

After the Saudi Arabia game, caput manager Mauricio Pochettino and his men volition past look Haiti connected June 22 astatine AT&T Stadium successful Arlington, Texas.

Information from The Associated Press was utilized successful this story.