USMNT Stock Up, Stock Down: Freese’s Fantastic Feats, Brady’s Blunders

The American boys are getting back into competitive action.

Several of the USMNT players are currently competing in the Leagues Cup. | Dustin Satloff/Leagues Cup/MLS/Getty Images; Michael Reaves/Leagues Cup/MLS/Getty Images;Jeff Dean/Getty Images

The new European club seasons may still be a few days away, but several of the U.S. men’s national players are already back into competitive play.

Major League Soccer jumped right into the second half of its season even prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, and now many of its teams are competing in the Leagues Cup against Liga MX’s finest in pursuit of continental glory. Six USMNT players from the World Cup roster compete in MLS, five of which are currently playing in the Leagues Cup—making for exciting, early glimpses into the state of the national team, which will regroup in late September.

As the American boys get down to business, especially those battling across North America, here’s Sports Illustrated’s weekly stock up, stock down analysis for the USMNT players.

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USMNT Stock Up

Miles Robinson

Miles Robinson provided lockdown defense on Friday. | A.J. Mast/MLS/Getty Images

Miles Robinson dazzled on Friday night in FC Cincinnati’s bout with Pumas UNAM. The MLS side faced the seven-time Liga MX champions and 2026 Liga MX Clausura runners-up in its second Leagues Cup Phase One match, downing the Mexico giants 2–0 in large part to Robinson’s heroics.

The USMNT second-string defender, who featured in the 3–2 group stage loss to Türkiye this summer, held down the center of Cincinnati’s three-back defense for all 90 minutes. The 29-year-old notched 10 defensive contributions and seven clearances en route to the shutout.

Cincinnati now sit fourth in the Leagues Cup standings after also securing a 3–1 victory over Pachuca in their first Leagues Cup match on Tuesday night.

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Cristian Roldan

Cristian Roldan was sidelined with injury for much of the World Cup. | John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images

Cristian Roldan returned to competitive play on Sunday for the first time since suffering a heartbreaking injury at the World Cup.

The Seattle Sounders midfielder logged 63 minutes in an emphatic 3–0 win over Queretaro FC in Leagues Cup play, the team’s first victory since early May and coming nearly seven weeks after Roldan strained his quad in the lead-up to the USMNT’s clash with Türkiye. The 31-year-old attempted to make a speedy recovery in time for the knockout stages but ultimately re-aggravated the injury. Roldan was one of just two USMNT players (Chris Brady) not to take the pitch at some point this summer.

Now that Roldan is healthy again, he will look to return to not only peak fitness but also the helm of the Sounders, who have floundered in the second half the season. They must return to winning ways for any chance of sustaining a spot in the MLS playoffs.

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Matt Freese

Matt Freese made a triple save against Santos. | Dustin Satloff/Leagues Cup/MLS/Getty Images

Matt Freese cosplayed a super hero on Thursday, leading New York City FC to a 2–0 victory against Santos Laguna in their first Leagues Cup match. The 27-year-old starting goalkeeper for the USMNT made six saves and 13 recoveries on the night, highlighted by a direct free kick save before halftime and a wild triple-save sequence late in the second half.

It marked Freese’s first clean sheet since the U.S.’s 2–0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup round of 32.

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USMNT Stock Down

Chris Brady

Chris Brady can’t seem to find consistency. | Michael Reaves/Leagues Cup/MLS/Getty Images

The struggles seem to be mounting for 23-year-old Chris Brady.

After a rather anonymous outing between the sticks in Chicago Fire’s MLS clash with Charlotte FC last week—ending the night with zero saves and poor long ball accuracy (25%)—the young USMNT goalkeeper actually responded well in his side’s first Leagues Cup match on Thursday; he made six saves en route to a shutout win against Necaxa. Yet things turned ugly again for Brady just days later against Santos Laguna.

The USMNT’s third-string goalkeeper took a gamble on Sunday night, and it didn’t pan out, costing Chicago a goal in the first half. Brady will feel fortunate that his blunder did not cost the game, though, as the Fire responded to the mistake with three goals of their own to walk away with a 3–1 victory in the Leagues Cup match.

In the 20th minute, Brady made a risky dash well outside of his box, hoping to beat striker Ezequiel Bullaude to the rolling ball. The Santos star was able to easily maneuver the ball away from Brady before firing a long shot into the open net and giving his team an early lead. Brady was left shaking his head.

Should Brady seek to earn more opportunities under manager Mauricio Pochettino, he will have to improve not only his consistency in net, but also his ability to read the speed and flight of the ball, especially when judging whether or not to leave his line.

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