Alex Freeman Makes 2026 World Cup Roster for U.S. Men’s Team
alex freeman made the U.S. Men’s National Team’s 26-man roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, giving the 21-year-old a place on the final tournament squad after debuting for the national team in 2025. He is the youngest player on the roster and the first player in Orlando City SC history to move from the academy through MLS NEXT Pro and MLS before reaching the World Cup stage.
Alex Freeman and Orlando City
Freeman’s route matters because it ran through every layer of Orlando City’s development system before ending on the World Cup roster. He made 42 appearances for the club across all competitions, recorded six goals and seven assists, and became the first Orlando City player to win MLS Young Player of the Year.
He also collected MLS All-Star honors in 2025 and MLS Best XI honors in 2025. Those awards came in the same year he first broke into the U.S. setup, when he debuted for the national team and made 13 appearances.
Antonio Freeman’s son
The roster spot also extends a family line already tied to major stages. Freeman is the son of former Super Bowl champion Antonio Freeman, and his path now reaches the sport’s biggest event after a fast climb through club and international play.
That climb came with a twist in January, when Orlando City transferred him to Villarreal CF for reportedly a near-$7 million transfer fee. He was out of contract after the 2026 MLS season, so the move arrived before the World Cup roster was set and after he had already built a strong case through league honors and national-team minutes.
U.S. group stage ahead
The U.S. will open Group D against Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, California. It then plays Australia in Seattle before facing Turkey on June 26 back in Inglewood.
Only eight Major League Soccer players made the U.S. World Cup roster, the fewest since 2010, so Freeman is part of a smaller domestic contingent headed into the tournament. For Orlando City, his selection closes the loop on a player who moved through the academy, MLS NEXT Pro, and MLS before reaching the 26-man group that will go into the World Cup.
