NEW YORK (Wednesday, July 12, 2017) – MLS Homegrown Team head coach Brian McBride and assistant coach Mike Magee have named their 18-man roster for the 2017 MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer®. The roster features some of the league’s most accomplished young stars who will take on the Chivas de Guadalajara Under-20 Team in the fourth annual MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer® on Tuesday, August 1 at 7 p.m. CT at Toyota Park.
Tickets, starting at $10, can be purchased on Ticketmaster.com and include entrance to the 2017 MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer® and the Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star soccer match held immediately prior at 5 p.m. CT at Toyota Park.
MLS Homegrown Game assistant coach Mike Magee will host a live Q&A session on the Chicago Fire Facebook page (facebook.com/chicagofire) tomorrow, July 13 at 2:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. CT to talk about the young Homegrown talent, coaching in his native Chicago, and answer questions about the match.
The Homegrown Team is highlighted by 16-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Alphonso Davies, who last week became the first player born in 2000 or after to score in any full national team tournament, worldwide. The Canadian international scored two goals to lead Canada to a 4-2 victory in the opening game of the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, becoming the youngest player to score in both Gold Cup and Canadian history. Toronto FC forward Jordan Hamilton has also represented the Canadian National Team on multiple occasions.
Joining the Canadians are five players who played for the United States at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup earlier this year in defenders Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake) and Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union), and midfielders Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls), Derrick Jones (Philadelphia Union) and Brooks Lennon (Real Salt Lake). Glad and Lennon were named to the Best XI squad at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship in March where the United States captured its first ever title. FC Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez, meanwhile, was called into the United States preliminary roster for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The MLS Homegrown Game will feature some of the most talented young players in North America, as the Homegrown Team will take on famed U-20 side Chivas de Guadalajara, the defending Liga MX U-20 champions, which features a roster with five players who represented Mexico at the U-20 World Cup. Several of the players have also received time with the Chivas reserve team along with the first team side that captured its record 12th Liga MX title in May. The Chivas U-20 travelling roster will be named at a later date.
The MLS Homegrown Game provides an annual platform in which to showcase MLS’ burgeoning young talent and demonstrate the growth of the league’s youth development system. MLS academies continue to attract and cultivate topflight prospects and have now produced over 170 Homegrown Players who have signed professional contracts with MLS clubs.
MLS Homegrown Players aged 22 or under were available for selection.
As part of a week of festivities surrounding the MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, Toyota Park will host a full day of events on August 1 beginning with the adidas ESP game at 2:30 p.m. CT. In addition, MLS WORKS and ESPN will be hosting the Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star soccer match immediately prior to the MLS Homegrown Game.
2017 MLS Homegrown Team Roster
Goalkeepers: Jesse Gonzalez (FC Dallas), Evan Louro (New York Red Bulls)
Defenders: Marco Farfan (Portland Timbers), Kortne Ford (Colorado Rapids), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union)
Midfielders: Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls), Alphonso Davies (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Derrick Etienne Jr. (New York Red Bulls), Derrick Jones (Philadelphia Union), Brooks Lennon (Real Salt Lake), Djordje Mihailovic (Chicago Fire), Paxton Pomykal (FC Dallas), Ballou Tabla (Montreal)
Forwards: Andrew Carleton (Atlanta United), Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas), Jordan Hamilton (Toronto FC), Bradford Jamieson IV (LA Galaxy)
Evan Louro Goalkeeper New York Red Bulls Nationality: USA Born: January 19, 1996
Louro signed a Homegrown Player contract with New York on January 23 after a long career with the Red Bulls academy that began in 2008. A three-year starter at the University of Michigan, Louro has represented the United States at numerous youth national team levels beginning in 2009. Louro is making his first appearance in the MLS Homegrown Game.
Tyler Adams Midfielder New York Red Bulls Nationality: USA Born: February 14, 1999
Adams makes his second appearance in the MLS Homegrown Game (2016) after signing a Homegrown Player contract with New York in November 2015. Internationally, Adams suited up for the United States Under-17 national team at the 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile and most recently represented the U.S. at the 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Korea Republic. Adams was also part of the U.S. team that captured its first ever CONCACAF U-20 Championship in 2017. The 18-year-old has become a main contributor for the Red Bulls this season with nine games started.
Derrick Etienne Jr. Midfielder New York Red Bulls Nationality: USA/Haiti Born: November 25, 1996
The 20-year-old midfielder has registered a career high four starts in 10 appearances for the Red Bulls this season. Although born in the United States, Etienne represents Haiti at the international level, receiving his first senior level cap in November 2016 and has since gone on to see the field five times for Haiti. Etienne scored his first international goal on January 8 in a 4-3 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifiers. Etienne is making his second appearance at the MLS Homegrown Game (2016).
