{"id":748003,"date":"2026-06-20T03:01:35","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T03:01:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/748003\/"},"modified":"2026-06-20T03:01:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T03:01:35","slug":"alex-freeman-son-of-nfl-standout-antonio-scores-for-us-in-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/748003\/","title":{"rendered":"Alex Freeman, son of NFL standout Antonio, scores for US in World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"

By BEN KULE<\/p>\n

SEATTLE (AP) \u2014 Alex Freeman may not have one-upped his famous father yet, but he could be on his way.<\/p>\n

The son of Super Bowl champion wide receiver Antonio Freeman scored on a header for the United States in\u00a0its 2-0 World Cup win<\/a>\u00a0over Australia on Friday. It was the third international goal for Freeman, the Americans\u2019 youngest starter at age 21.<\/p>\n

With the U.S. leading 1-0 in the 43rd minute, Antonee Robinson sent a free kick to Sergi\u00f1o Dest, who fired a shot from just outside the penalty area. The ball deflected off an Australian defender and high into the air,\u00a0and Freeman leaped<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 high-pointing the ball, in NFL terms \u2014 and headed it past the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Patrick Beach and into the net.<\/p>\n

A replay review for offside delayed Freeman\u2019s celebration, but\u00a0the goal was confirmed,<\/a>\u00a0and Lumen Field shook as Freeman ran to a corner of the field, surrounded by jubilant teammates.<\/p>\n

\"United<\/p>\n

United States\u2019 Alex Freeman (16) scores their second goal during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Lindsey Wasson)\n<\/p>\n

\"Australia<\/p>\n

Australia goalkeeper Patrick Beach fails to stop a goal by United States\u2019 Alex Freeman, center, during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Lindsey Wasson)\n<\/p>\n

\"United<\/p>\n

United States\u2019 Alex Freeman, center, scores his side\u2019s second goal past Australia goalkeeper Patrick Beach during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Lindsey Wasson)\n<\/p>\n

\"United<\/p>\n

United States\u2019 Alex Freeman celebrates after scoring his side\u2019s second goal during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Lindsey Wasson)\n<\/p>\n

\"United<\/p>\n

United States\u2019 Alex Freeman (16), second left, celebrates after scoring his side\u2019s second goal during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Manu Fernandez)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 5<\/p>\n

United States\u2019 Alex Freeman (16) scores their second goal during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Lindsey Wasson)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cHe deserves it,\u201d U.S. defender Chris Richards said. \u201cHe\u2019s had a great tournament so far and a great progression throughout the last year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Freeman called it \u201ca full-circle family moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, it just shows how great the family tree is,\u201d he said. \u201cHe can be great but I can be great in my own way as well. I think that just shows how amazing it is to have a dad who\u2019s successful and that can mentor me to be able to be ready for moments like these.\u201d<\/p>\n

Antonio Freeman played nine NFL seasons, mostly with the Green Bay Packers as a favorite target of quarterback Brett Favre. They won the Super Bowl together after the 1996 season, with Freeman hauling in an 81-yard touchdown pass from Favre that gave the Packers the lead for good against the New England Patriots.<\/p>\n

More: World Cup standings, results and brackets<\/a><\/p>\n

Antonio Freeman was one of the pioneers of the Packers\u2019 signature celebration, the Lambeau Leap. Now his son has a signature jump of his own.<\/p>\n

Alex Freeman spent much of the last two years vying for a spot on the U.S. roster. He was a starter for Orlando City of Major League Soccer, but had to battle with more experienced defenders to get selected. A few months before the World Cup, he gambled on himself.<\/p>\n

In January, Freeman\u00a0accepted a move to Villarreal<\/a>\u00a0of La Liga, accepting a smaller role than what he enjoyed with Orlando.<\/p>\n

Two months earlier, Freeman impressed U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino in his 13th international appearance, scoring two goals against Uruguay\u00a0in a 5-1 victory<\/a>\u00a0on Nov. 18.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s so humble. He wants to learn. He always listens,\u201d Pochettino said. \u201cHe\u2019s a player that you really enjoy being with him. Not only coaching, but being with him. He\u2019s a lovely guy, and he\u2019s an amazing player.\u201d<\/p>\n

Freeman made an immediate impact in the World Cup, playing all 90 minutes in the U.S. opener against Paraguay. He assisted on Gio Reyna\u2019s extra-time goal in the 4-1 victory.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs long as he continues to develop and he\u2019s able to show he\u2019s doing it on the big stage,\u201d striker Folarin Balogun said, \u201cI think he\u2019s going to have a bright future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben Kule is a student in the University of Georgia\u2019s Carmical Sports Media Institute.<\/p>\n

AP World Cup: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/fifa-world-cup<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By BEN KULE SEATTLE (AP) \u2014 Alex Freeman may not have one-upped his famous father yet, but he…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":748004,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[559],"tags":[359498,359500,359499,64,63,593,85],"class_list":["post-748003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-alex-freeman-dad","tag-alex-freeman-goal","tag-antonio-freeman-son","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-nfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/748003","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=748003"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/748003\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/748004"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=748003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=748003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=748003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}