In the wake of the U.S. men’s national team’s devastating loss to Belgium in the World Cup Round of 16, one thing helped starting goalkeeper Matt Freese keep his head held high. 

“On my flight home and in the airport, little kids were coming up and their parents saying that their kids are now soccer fans and in love with the sport, and can’t stop talking about soccer,” Freese told The Post during a lengthy interview on Tuesday. “It was super incredible and obviously it was a difficult period of time. It still is something you think about, and to have that makes you proud of the impact you hopefully had.” 

A little more than a week removed from the team’s 4-1 loss to Belgium, Freese is back in New York and preparing for the restart of the MLS season with New York City FC, but the goalkeeper acknowledged his thought for the past week had been, “I wish I wasn’t back home.” 

Freese and the United States squad at that World Cup captured the hearts and minds of American fans during their run in the tournament, but the controversy surrounding the waiving of a suspension of star striker Folarin Balogun and the disappointing way the U.S. was knocked out ended things on a sour note. 

The 27-year-old goalkeeper, in particular, had a rough moment in the final match when he made a costly mistake that allowed an attempted clearance to turn into Belgium’s third goal of the match, seemingly squashing any comeback hopes for the Americans. 

“I think it’s a moment that will, as all mistakes and bad moments in sports are, it’s a moment that will live with me and be part of me and motivate me and not define my career,” Freese said after a brief pause to reflect. “[The negatives and positives] will continue to motivate me to work harder, to be better, and to find more of those good moments, and limit, and minimize, and get rid of the bad moments.” 

Freese has often been described by his NYCFC teammates and coaches as someone who remains calm under pressure, and during the conversation with The Post, the former Philadelphia Union academy product conveyed that while looking back on the World Cup run. Freese described the experience of playing in the World Cup as an “honor” while expressing a desire to be back there in four years to build on what he felt the USMNT had started. 

And he voiced a belief that the USMNT program was on the right track, seeing it as a “program that truly believes,” and endorsed the idea of Mauricio Pochettino returning as head coach. 

“I think we have a group that is not just soccer players, but also a federation that believes and is hungry within that belief to make something special happen and get to the next level,” Freese said. 

He also had a message for anyone who didn’t buy into the idea that the U.S. men’s national team is poised to keep getting better. 

“I would say I’m going to work like a dog to make sure that’s not true,” Freese said. 

Freese will be back in net next week when New York City FC restarts its MLS regular season, and soccer fans should get set to see plenty of the goalkeeper around. During a conversation with The Post last week, NYCFC CEO Brad Sims indicated that the club would utilize Freese’s notoriety following the World Cup to draw interest. 

MLS featured Freese as part of what the league called the largest coordinated marketing campaign in its history that was launched this week, featuring the tagline “Thanks World, We’ll Take It From Here.” The goalkeeper was also selected to be a part of the league’s All-Star game in Charlotte later this month. 

Freese, who is typically more of a private person, said he plans to embrace the role as an ambassador of the sport. 

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“You have to see your role and you have to play your part,” he said. “My part will be a legitimate part of soccer continuing to grow in this league and in this country, and I have to recognize that. And I have to do my best to grow it well and represent the country and represent the league and New York City well.” 

As for what Freese hopes is the lasting memory he leaves from the World Cup, it’s not a save or a play. “I’m hopeful that I inspired many players to continue playing this game and to work harder in the same way that I was inspired 20 years ago,” he said.