Team USA takes the field to face off against Team Bosnia on Wednesday night. And one of their star players grew up right here in South Florida.
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The 21-year-old soccer player, Alex Freeman, made his debut with the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team last year, but is now participating in his first-ever World Cup. It’s a dream that he and his family still can’t believe is reality.
“The one thing I noticed early on was how much better he was than the kids around him at soccer,” said Jake Hinkle, Freeman’s stepfather.
At 4 years old, Freeman was introduced to soccer by his stepfather, and first coach, Hinkle.
“You can tell on the soccer side, yeah, there was a difference between him and most of the kids out there,” Hinkle said.
While Freeman played other sports, soccer continued to be his passion.
And he pursued it even when met with hardship. Freeman was a player at Weston FC Academy when he tried for Inter Miami’s Academy, but didn’t make the team. He later joined Orlando City’s Academy and then signed to their MLS Reserve team.
“Just seeing what it took to get to this point and some of the challenges he’s faced. It certainly has been talked about, he wasn’t always the first selection,” Hinkle said. “But something like playing for Orlando City’s second team for three seasons and putting the work in and seeing it now pay off, it’s amazing.”
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Freeman’s persistence granted him a spot on the U.S. Men’s National Team, a starting position in Gold Cup matches, the opportunity to play for Villarreal, and now, being able to play at the World Cup stage.
“The last year and a half has gone from ‘keep putting the work in, I think you’ll get there’ to ‘wow, you’ve made it’,” Hinkle said with a smile.
And thanks to Freeman’s performance on the World Cup stage, he’s now become one of the players to watch. It’s a pride his first coach has been proud to witness.
“It means a lot. I mean, look, and he’s my oldest son. I’ve been with him since he was 3 years old, so it’s like any father would feel,” Hinkle said. “There’s a ton of pride and just thankful I was able to be there for him and play a role.”
Hinkle has now gone from coaching on the sidelines to cheering in the stands. When asked how he reacted when seeing his son score a goal during a World Cup game, “You are fighting back tears of joy, of course,” he said with a laugh.
Hinkle and his family are hoping to continue watching Freeman’s dreams end in victory. You can watch USA vs. Bosnia on Telemundo and Peacock in Spanish.
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