United States goalkeeper Matt Freese has admitted that he is still coming to terms with his country's painful exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, even as he returns to club football in MLS.

The United States were eliminated in the round of 16 following a heavy 4-1 defeat to Belgium, a result that Freese says continues to weigh on him.

"I'm not quite over it," Freese said, reflecting on a loss that ended the host nation's World Cup campaign far sooner than fans had hoped.

The defeat marked an abrupt conclusion to what had been a tournament filled with expectation for the United States, who entered the competition as co-hosts and carried the hopes of a nation energised by home advantage.

Belgium's clinical performance in that round-of-16 tie proved too much for the United States, who were unable to recover from an early onslaught and exited without reaching the quarterfinals.

Freese's candid reflection underlines just how deeply the loss cut through the squad, and suggests that the memories of that defeat will continue to motivate the United States as they regroup ahead of future international competition.