(WSVN) - A South Florida standout is in the spotlight after making it onto soccer’s biggest stage.
Defender Alex Freeman was chosen for a golden opportunity, being named to the U.S. Men’s National Team’s 26-player roster for the World Cup.
The U.S. World Cup team was announced on Tuesday, and Freeman’s dream became a reality.
Speaking to 7News on Thursday, the star said that while he’s always admired his father, former Super Bowl champion Antonio Freeman, he’s also had a secret love for soccer.
Freeman was just a kid playing on South Florida soccer fields and is now bringing his community with him to the biggest soccer stage.
“I hope I can go to this World Cup stage and represent Florida well, you know, and for me it’s a big step for me also, you know, represent, you know, the kids in Florida in the big stage,” said Freeman.
Now, at 21, Freeman is the youngest player on this USA team and ready to represent his home country.
“Just stepped on the scene kind of like a year and a half ago, and now I’m able to represent my home country in the World Cup. It’s so amazing, and I feel like success comes with a lot of pressure. And so I’ve been able to kind of handle the pressure and hopefully be successful in the future, just on and off the field, in any way I can,” said Freeman.
The road was not easy for Freeman as he chose to leave his home at the age of 16.
“Growing up, you kind of wait to get to this moment, right where you can. I represent your country, right, and for me it was one of those moments where everything seemed like it was worth it,” said Freeman.
On Thursday, Freeman and his teammates trained in Georgia. The U.S. team has two friendly matches left, beginning Sunday against Senegal, before the real game begins.
Following his practice, he told 7News he’s ready to embrace his first World Cup.
“We’re going to dream big, right? We’re going to achieve a lot, especially with this group. It’s an amazing group and amazing team, and amazing staff, we all get well together, just to be able to work together, you know, we’ve been together. We have that chemistry and that confidence together. I think for us what we want to achieve, it’s going to be big things this summer, just to kind of make soccer very big in the U.S.,” said Freeman.
Alex grew up in Plantation and went to American Heritage High School.
His mother spoke to 7News about his accomplishment on Wednesday.
“He’s playing for the greatest country in the world; he’s the only kid from Florida. I’m super proud of that as well. He’s overcome every obstacle that could have been in front of him. He’s he’s he’s crushed it,” said Rochelle Hinkle.
Before being named to the World Cup team, he played for Orlando City SC in the 2025 Major League Soccer season before making the leap to Spain and Villarreal in La Liga.
Freeman and his U.S. teammates will begin World Cup play June 12 against Paraguay in Group D, in Los Angeles.
Team USA is in Group D along with Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey. The Americans are hoping to advance to the knockout round and beyond on home soil.
Soccer fans can catch the World Cup fun on WSVN Channel 7, starting on June 11.
Copyright 2026 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.