USMNT teammates face off as Crew, NYCFC return from World Cup break
New York City FC and the Columbus Crew resume their MLS seasons after a nearly two-month World Cup break, with USMNT teammates Matt Freese (NYCFC goalkeeper) and Max Arfsten (Crew midfielder) facing each other. Freese played four of five matches for the US in their round of 16 run, while Arfsten saw limited minutes. Both will briefly reunite as teammates in the MLS All-Star game on July 29. The Crew sold leading scorer Diego Rossi to Monterrey and added Brais Mendez, Lautaro Giaccone, and Eric Bailly (pending visas). NYCFC welcomed back midfielder James Sands from a loan to FC St. Pauli. The match also features players who faced off in the World Cup, including NYCFC's Australian defenders Kai Trewin and Aiden O'Neill, who lost to the US in the group stage.
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