The moment will forever be etched into the memories of U.S. soccer fans after Monday’s 4-1 loss to Belgium in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16.
USMNT goalkeeper Matt Freese, his team trailing 2-1, comes up out of the penalty box to make a play on the ball and, realizing he was in danger, attempts to clear it … only to swing his foot directly into the turf.
The result was a Belgium goal for a 3-1 lead and 1 of the most embarrassing moments in World Cup history.
Former New York Giants kicker Younghoe Koo’s 2025 missed field goal against the New England Patriots — in which he planted his foot directly into the turf — quickly went viral following Freese’s mistake.
The USMNT was trying to qualify for the World Cup quarterfinals for the 1st time since 2002.
“Freese’s decisions (against Belgium) came under question early and often,” ESPN’s Ryan S. Clark wrote following the loss. “It started when he misread a sequence during the Belgians’ first goal by De Ketelaere. It proved costly again when De Ketelaere scored his second goal on a header that caught Freese out of position. Then, he committed his blunder in the second half, when he tried to play the ball outside his area, but it deflected off De Ketelaere to Hans Vanaken, who scored the fatal goal.”
That Freese also plays in the MLS for New York City FC was pointed out among the online denizens.
“Younghoe Koo: New York Giants,” Breaking Balls Sports wrote on its official X account. “Matt Freese: New York City FC. New York Football is cursed.”
Social Media Goes All In on Koo & Freese
Social media was relentless to both parties, even though Koo had absolutely zero role in what happened to the USMNT and Freese.
“Biggest game of his life and Matt Freese pulled a Younghoe Koo,” Hater Report wrote on its official X account.
“Being a Giants fan and seeing Freese pull a Younghoe Koo ruined my day,” Giants fan Rob Carrier wrote on X.
“Why did the USA goalie pull a Younghoe Koo?” Gio Navarro wrote on X.
“Did Matt Freese just Younghoe Koo one in the World Cup?” Sports Radio 810’s Kurtis Seaboldt wrote on his official X account.
Younghoe Koo Blamed 2025 Mistake on Holder
Koo placed the blame for his mistake against the Patriots — a 33-15 Giants loss — on the shoulders of holder Jamie Gillam.
“I was approaching the ball and, cold weather, the ball kind of slipped out at the bottom so it was moving,” Koo said after the game. “I wasn’t able to kick through the ball. The ball was moving when I was driving to it, so I just pulled up on it.”
Koo was waived after missing a pair of 54-yard field goals in a 29-21 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 15. He was signed by the New York Jets on May 27 but released 1 week later.
Koo originally made it to the NFL in 2017 with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Southern, but is best known for his time with the Atlanta Falcons from 2019 to 2025, including being selected for the Pro Bowl in 2020.
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