ATLANTA — Members of the United States Men’s National Soccer Team continued to emphasize competition and accountability on Tuesday, as Alex Freeman and Cristian Roldan addressed the intensity of camp and the reality that no roster spot is guaranteed heading into the World Cup.
With increased depth across the roster, players acknowledged the pressure that comes with fighting for a spot. Roldan highlighted the importance of staying ready regardless of selection, emphasizing a team-first mentality even in a highly competitive environment.
“With the absence of Tyler, look, it’s a huge gap. Tyler brings a whole lot to our team — his energy, his ability to tackle, cover, press, his leadership. Now it’s time for the rest of the midfielders to fill that void. The midfield position is quite competitive. When you talk about guys like Weston and Tanner playing so well, guys like Seba and Aiden playing so well, and then you have Johnny playing for Atlético — for me it’s about how can I compete? How can I put myself in a good spot before the World Cup? Put myself in the best spot possible to make that squad. But listen, if my name isn’t called, I’m going to be the best teammate I can be, and I fully expect the rest of the midfielders to do the same. The level of competition is there. The level of competition that we’re going to face on the field is there — so this is a great opportunity for all of us to test ourselves against some really good competition.” — Cristian Roldan
The competition is only heightened by the significance of the upcoming World Cup, particularly with the tournament set to take place on home soil. Roldan spoke about the balance between pressure and responsibility, noting the opportunity to inspire the next generation of American players watching across the country.
“With pressure comes responsibility. The responsibility that we possess at the moment is to create our own moments, create our history for the next generation — for the kids that are watching, to be inspired to be the next Christian Pulisic’s and Weston McKinney’s. With pressure there’s a huge responsibility on our part to show up and create those long lasting memories for the next generation. We’re all excited to have the World Cup here in the United States. We’re in such a great spot, as fans of the sport, to be able to achieve something bigger than ourselves.” — Cristian Roldan
Despite being labeled as friendlies, the upcoming matches against Belgium and Portugal carry significant weight. Facing top European competition, players made it clear that these are meaningful opportunities to prove themselves ahead of the World Cup. Roldan put it bluntly.
With all those things you’ve mentioned — the pressure, the amount of emotions that people are going through right now — it’s obviously everybody’s dream to go to a World Cup. So it creates a competitive field, players that are eager to get out there and show what they’re capable of. I expect competition this camp. I expect competition every camp, but this one especially, leading up to the World Cup. No one’s spot is guaranteed, and so proving yourself each and every day is extremely important. These friendlies are not friendlies. We’re playing against big time European countries that have a long history in the sport. That’s our chance to show what we’re capable of and who we can compete against. We’re all excited for the level of competition that comes along with the pressure and emotions that come with the dream of going to the World Cup. — Cristian Roldan
For Freeman, the experience extends beyond the national team, as his recent move abroad has played a key role in his development. The transition to Spain has challenged him both on and off the field, forcing him to adapt quickly while continuing to grow at a high level. Freeman expressed that leaving his family was one of the more difficult adjustments, something he had to come to terms with quickly — but one that has ultimately accelerated his maturity. He also noted that Villarreal has been welcoming and supportive throughout the transition, even helping him pick up some Spanish along the way.
He also noted conversations with Weston McKennie and head coach Mauricio Pochettino as influential in shaping his mindset, particularly when it comes to taking risks and embracing opportunities.
“For me, it was obviously a move that kind of changed my life, but it was a move that made sense to me. After what I did this year in MLS, how can I challenge myself again? This was the thing I wanted to do — to challenge myself, be in good form for the World Cup, but also just to experience something for my future. Going into it you have people to talk to — my parents, my family. But two people I talked to were Coach Pochettino and Weston McKennie. They kind of gave me that talk, gave me the pros and cons but in a supportive way, knowing that whatever decision I made, do it for yourself. Take the risk if you want. It’s your life — you have to be able to extend yourself and do what you want to do, but also know that it’s high risk, high reward. It’s good to get that feedback from guys who have experience in the top places in Europe.” — Alex Freeman
Freeman also pointed to the impact of veteran leadership within the squad, crediting players like Roldan for setting the tone in camp.
“Cristian’s been kind of that guy that I could talk to. When you go to one of the leaders on the team, I think one of the first names I think of is Cristian Roldan. Knowing that he’s a leader and knowing that he’s been great — especially when I was first in the academy and first going into the first team and trying to fit in, Cristian was kind of that guy you knew when you thought of MLS vets that were always consistently performing. Now experiencing that with him as a teammate is something I’m grateful for. It’s cool to see that leadership firsthand, right in front of you. Growing up and watching him, it’s good that I’m able to play with him now and just experience” — Alex Freeman
The message echoed comments made by Pochettino last week, as the coaching staff continues to evaluate a deep player pool. With no guarantees for the final roster, every training session and match presents another opportunity for players to prove their value.
The competition is expected to continue in the coming days, with additional player interviews scheduled throughout the week as the USMNT prepares for the World Cup this summer. The United States will look to carry that competitive edge into match action when they take on Belgium on March 28th in Atlanta.