Some of the top young talent in Major League Soccer will go up against youth players from one of Mexico’s biggest clubs this summer, with the league announcing on Tuesday that the MLS Homegrown Team will face Club América’s U-20 squad in the second-annual Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game.
The match will be held on July 28 at 7 pm MT/9 pm ET at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park as a prelude to the 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Game, which will see MLS's best battle English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in Commerce City, Colorado, on July 29.
All MLS clubs will nominate at least three of their Homegrown Players to an initial list to be voted on by MLS club technical staffs. Clubs that do not have three Homegrown Players must nominate at least one Homegrown Player from their roster. Players with the most votes, in consultation with this year’s MLS Homegrown Team coaching staff, will be named to the Homegrown Game roster.
Due to 2015 AT&T All-Star Game selections, the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament, and other potential conflicts, the 2015 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game roster is subject to change. Details on how MLS fans can watch the game will be released at a later date.
MLS academies have now produced nearly 150 players who have signed professional contracts with MLS clubs, with several – including LA Galaxy’s Gyasi Zardes and Columbus Crew SC’s Wil Trapp – recently earning caps with the US men’s national team. MLS Homegrown Players have also served as a steady force on US youth national teams, with seven players named to the official US U-20 roster for the upcoming 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and three Homegrowns called into the most recent US U-23 Olympic qualifying camp that will participate in the prestigious 2015 Toulon Tournament in France.
“The development of Major League Soccer’s youth academy system continues to be one of the league’s highest priorities,” Todd Durbin, MLS Executive Vice President of Player Relations and Competition, said in a statement. “Now in its second year, the Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game is a great platform to showcase many outstanding homegrown talents our clubs have produced, and who are not participating in the All-Star Game. We are excited to welcome the Club América U-20 team as this year’s opponent, which should make for a highly entertaining and competitive match.”
The Club América U-20s finished atop the Fuerzas Básicas Sub 20 table with a 10-2-5 record and feature some of Mexico’s brightest future stars, including leading goalscorer Iván Pineda and fellow forward Alejandro Díaz. Both youth standouts were recently named to Mexico’s official U-20 World Cup roster and were members of the U-20 squad that took home the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship earlier this year.
Tickets to the match are on sale now and include entrance to both the Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game as well as the MLS WORKS/Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star Soccer Match being held immediately prior on the game field at 5 pm MT/7 pm ET.
The first-ever Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game ended in a draw, with the MLS Homegrown Team tying the Portland Timbers U-23s 0-0 at Providence Park last summer.
