Red Bulls one of three teams to host annual nationally-televised search for America’s best undiscovered youth soccer player; Registration now open
NEW YORK (March 20, 2016) – Today marked the launch of the landmark 10th edition of Sueño MLS – Presented by Allstate Insurance Company, the premier nationally-televised search for the best undiscovered soccer talent in North America. Online registration is now open, once again giving thousands of aspiring young soccer players across the country the chance to turn their dreams into a reality. The New York Red Bulls will be one of three MLS clubs participating in this year’s event, hosting tryouts in the New York metro area on April 23 and 24.
Hopefuls are now able to register at www.SuenoMLS.com for an opportunity to participate in one of the three open tryouts across the United States. The competition will be chronicled in a unique “reality show within a show” format by Univision Deportes’ popular weekly sports entertainment program, República Deportiva (Sports Republic), airing every Sunday at 3 p.m. and midnight ET.
Celebrating its historic 10th year, Sueño MLS – Presented by AllstateInsurance Company will be staged by three Major League Soccer teams, including first-time host Portland Timbers, as well as returning hosts LA Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls. Up to 400 tryout spots will be made available in each city on a first come, first serve basis. In past years, spots have filled up in only a few hours following the start of registration. A waiting list will be available once all spots have been filled.
In each city, field players will be battling for one of five invitations to a week-long trial with their respective youth development host club and a trip to the exciting five-day National Final in Carson, Calif. that will be hosted by Sueño MLS Ambassador and legendary Mexican forward, Luis “El Matador” Hernández. The finals will include training sessions, scrimmages, guest celebrity scouts and an opportunity to meet some of the League’s biggest stars. The Sueño MLS 2016 – Presented by Allstate Insurance Company winner will be crowned on Sunday, May 22, live in-studio on República Deportiva (see calendar below for more information).
In addition, the Allstate “Good Hands®” top goalkeeper award, El Portero Allstate, will be presented for the sixth consecutive year. One goalkeeper at each of the three local tryouts will be selected as a local goalkeeper finalist and will compete in the National Finals for the opportunity to be named El Portero Allstate. El Portero Allstate finalists will be mentored by Mexican goalkeeping legend Adolfo Ríos.
In addition to the title, both the Sueño MLS 2016 – Presented by Allstate Insurance Company and El Portero Allstate winners will be invited to join a youth-level team at the MLS club represented at the National Final.
Since its inception in 2007, Sueño MLS has given more than 15,000 talented young athletes an opportunity to showcase their skills and impress scouts. The program has helped discover several standouts, including original Sueño MLS winner and 2015 MLS Cup Champion Jorge Villafaña (formerly Jorge Flores) currently with Club Santos Laguna, C.F. Monterrey forward Gabriel Funes Mori, and his brother, Everton FC defender Ramiro Funes Mori. Many others have gone on to play for MLS academy teams, universities, youth national teams and professionally around the world.
MLS partners participating in Sueño MLS 2016 – Presented by Allstate Insurance Companyinclude adidas, Johnson & Johnson, Makita and Wells Fargo.
Photos, b-roll and logo from Sueño MLS 2016 – Presented by Allstate Insurance Company are available for download at: https://mlssoccer.box.com/s/atvt0jhphr4vx2c0tlkixnz5yj8n8ac2
2016 TIMELINE
March 20 Live announcement on Univision Network’s República Deportiva
April 9-10 Local market tryouts in the Los Angeles area, hosted by LA Galaxy
April 16-17 Local market tryouts in the Portland area, hosted by Portland Timbers
April 23-24 Local market tryouts in the New York metro area, hosted by New York Red Bulls
May 4-7 National Final at the StubHub Center in the Los Angeles area
May 22 Live announcement of winner on República Deportiva
PARTICIPANT ELIGIBILITY:
Eligible players must be males between the ages of 13 and 16 years old (born between January 1, 2000 – April 1, 2003) with appropriate identification and have retained their amateur status. Current collegiate student-athletes will not be permitted to attend the National Final in Carson, Calif. Sueño MLS participants will be responsible for all personal expenses associated with the local market tryout, including travel to local tryouts, lodging, food, soccer equipment (shoes, training gear, etc.), etc. Program sponsors will cover all expenses for eighteen (18) participants selected to attend the National Final in Carson, Calif. For more information, please visit www.SuenoMLS.com. Participation in the event is free. Players may not register for more than one city.
SUEÑO MLS ALL-TIME WINNERS:
Year Name Hometown Position Host Team
2015 Baltazar Duran Cicero, Ill. Midfielder Chicago Fire
2014 Johnny Chavarría Las Vegas, Nev. Defender LA Galaxy
2013 Alexander Soto Elizabeth, N.J. Forward D.C. United
2012 Armando Flores Anaheim, Calif. Forward Chivas USA
2011 Birnis Adames Camden, N.J. Forward Philadelphia Union
2010 Nelson Castro Houston, Texas Defender Houston Dynamo
2009 Alberto Lopez Aurora, Ill. Midfielder Chicago Fire
2008 Gabriel Funes Mori Arlington, Texas Forward FC Dallas
2008 Briant Reyes Downey, Calif. Midfielder Chivas USA
2007 Jorge [Flores] Villafaña Anaheim, Calif. Forward Chivas USA
*Co-winners in 2008
Allstate “Good Hands®” top goalkeeper award - El Portero Allstate ALL-TIME WINNERS:
Year Name Hometown Host Team
2015 Eduardo Muñoz Díaz Lafayette, Ind. Chicago Fire
2014 Steven Manuel Ortiz Linden, N.J. New York Red Bulls
2013 Luis Aranzazu Pembroke Pines, Fla. D.C. United
2012 Jimmy Camacho Riverside, Calif. Chivas USA
2011 Anthony Hall Dallas, Texas FC Dallas
ABOUT MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer features 20 clubs throughout the United States and Canada. The 2016 season marks the second year of the most comprehensive U.S. media rights partnership in the history of the league, as eight-year agreements with ESPN, FOX Sports and Univision Deportes have commenced. For more information about MLS, visit www.MLSsoccer.com.
About Univision Deportes
Univision Deportes is the multimedia sports division of Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) and includes UDN, the No. 1 Spanish-language sports network in the U.S. Univision Deportes’ portfolio of rights includes 11 of the 18 teams in Liga MX, the Mexican National Team, the U.S. Men’s & Women’s National Teams, Major League Soccer, Copa MX, Copa Centroamericana, Copa América Centenario 2016, CONCACAF Gold Cup, CONCACAF Champions League, international friendlies, select matches from Liga de Ascenso in Mexico, Portuguese First Division, Dutch First Division, FC Barcelona TV and Bayern Munich TV, Mexico’s Campeon de Campeones and SuperCopa, and Formula 1. Univision Deportes is also the exclusive home to shows such as Premios Univision Deportes, Solo Boxeo, Zona NBA, Republica Deportiva and Contacto Deportivo, the highest-rated Spanish-language sports studio show in the U.S., and delivers comprehensive coverage across platforms on all the latest from the NBA, NFL, MLB, and world of boxing.
www.SuenoMLS.com / @SuenoMLS
