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MLS Homegrown Team to face Tigres UANL Under-20 Champions in 2018 MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer®

Homegrown Team to face defending Mexican league U-20 Champions live on UDN and Twitter on July 31;

Atlanta United Academy Director to coach Homegrown Team

NEW YORK (June 12, 2018) – Major League Soccer today announced that the MLS Homegrown Team will take on Tigres UANL, the reigning Mexican league’s Under-20 champion, in the fifth annual MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer® on July 31 at 8 p.m. ET at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, part of a week of events during 2018 MLS All-Star Atlanta. In addition to the live national broadcast on Univision Deportes Network (UDN), the MLS Homegrown Game will be streamed live on Twitter for the first time in the history of the event.

Tickets, starting at $15, may be purchased on Ticketmaster.com and includes entrance to the Special Olympics Unified Sports® All-Star Soccer Match presented by MLS WORKS and ESPN, held immediately prior at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground. Tickets are now available by CLICKING HERE.

The MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer® is the latest initiative between Major League Soccer and Liga MX after the two leagues announced an increased partnership in March including a focus on youth development highlighted by an annual showcase match. Joining a list of formidable opponents to participate in the MLS Homegrown Game, Tigres UANL’s Under-20 team brings an accomplished track record to the match. The club captured the Liga MX Under-20 title last month and features numerous players that have received time with both the Tigres reserve squad and the first team side that has captured the Liga MX title in three out of the previous six tournaments.  

Atlanta United Academy Director Tony Annan will serve as the head coach for the Homegrown Team against Tigres. Annan, who helped build Atlanta’s academy from the ground up and brings over 20 years of youth development experience to the match, is one of only six coaches to hold licenses from the U.S. Soccer Academy Director’s Course and the Elite Formation Coaching License course (EFCL). With a focus on cultivating talented academy products, Annan has helped Atlanta identify and develop standout youth players from the academy to the first team, coaching the club’s U-17 squad to a national title in the first year of the program.

CLICK HERE for media assets including video soundbytes from Atlanta United Academy Director Tony Annan

One of the many highly anticipated events during the week of events surrounding 2018 MLS All-Star Atlanta, the MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer® 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 150 Homegrown Players who have signed professional contracts with MLS clubs. Vital to the long-term success of their clubs, Homegrown Players now serve more important and visible roles than ever, with academy products logging a record number of goals, assists, minutes and games played in 2017. Of note, the 94 assists compiled by Homegrown Players in 2017 is more than double the total compared to 2016. 

Homegrown Players have also become significant contributors at the international level with the U.S. and Canadian youth and senior national teams relying on some of the league’s most exciting and promising young players. In the past year, 13 current Homegrown standouts have been called to represent the U.S. Men’s National Team, including MLS Homegrown Game alumnus Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls), Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas) and Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake). In addition, 11 current Homegrown Players played for the United States in the 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup while seven Homegrown Players represented the U.S. at the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup. Outside of the U.S., five Homegrown Players were called to represent the Canada Men’s National Team at the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup, with Alphonso Davies (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) winning the tournament’s golden boot.

“The continued growth of Major League Soccer’s youth academy system and development of the future stars of the sport remain at the forefront of the league’s long-term initiatives,” said Todd Durbin, Executive Vice President of Player Relations and Competition. “The MLS Homegrown Game offers a unique opportunity to showcase the talent our clubs have produced. We are excited to have the Tigres Under-20 team as this year’s opponent in another example of how MLS continues to build upon its partnership with Liga MX in the area of youth development.”

MLS Homegrown Players are a specialized group of players that have been a member of an MLS club’s youth development program for at least one year and have met the necessary training and retention requirements. Players that meet those qualifications can sign a professional contract with the club’s senior team without being subject to the SuperDraft.

Media planning to cover the MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer®, the Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star Soccer Match presented by MLS WORKS and ESPN, along with the 2018 MLS All-Star Game may now apply for credentials by CLICKING HERE.

MLS All-Stadium credentials, team season credentials and credentials from previous MLS and SUM events will not be recognized for any of the media events surrounding the All-Star Game. Credential applications must be received by Wednesday, July 18.

MLS Homegrown Game History

2017: MLS Homegrown Team 2-2 Chivas de Guadalajara U-20s

2016: MLS Homegrown Team 0-1 Mexico U-20s

2015: MLS Homegrown Team 1(4)-1(5) Club América U-20s

2014: MLS Homegrown Team 0–0 Portland Timbers U-23s

ABOUT MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer features 26 clubs throughout the United States and Canada, including future expansion teams in Nashville, Miami and Cincinnati. The League plans to have 28 clubs in the coming years. For more information about MLS, visit www.MLSsoccer.com.

ABOUT ENERGIZER

Energizer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ENR), headquartered in St. Louis, MO, is one of the world's largest manufacturers of primary batteries and portable lighting products and is anchored by its two globally recognized brands Energizer® and EVEREADY®. Energizer is also a leading designer and marketer of automotive fragrance and appearance products from recognized brands such as Refresh Your Car!®, California Scents®, Driven®, Bahama & Co.®, LEXOL® and Eagle One®. Visit http://www.energizerholdings.com for more details.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Midfielder Alphonso Davies Voted Alcatel MLS Player of the Week

NEW YORK (Tuesday, June 12, 2018) – Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Alphonso Davies was voted the Alcatel Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the 15th week of the 2018 MLS season.

Vancouver extended its unbeaten streak to six matches with a 5-2 victory over Orlando City SC at BC Place on Saturday, with Davies netting one goal and adding three assists to help lift the club. With the outstanding performance, the 17-year-old Davies became the youngest player in league history to record three assists in a match and the youngest player to factor into a combined four goals and assists, according to Elias Sports Bureau. On the season, Davies has two goals and seven assists, the latter tied for third in MLS. Whitecaps FC sit fourth in the Western Conference with 23 points (6-5-5 overall record).

Davies’ tremendous pace was on full display during a Vancouver counter in the 36th minute, with the midfielder dribbling past multiple defenders before displaying some fancy footwork in the box. The Canada National Team midfielder then laid the ball off to Kei Kamara, setting up the forward’s strike to the center of goal to give Whitecaps FC a 1-0 lead (Watch Assist). Following an Orlando equalizer, Davies would reclaim Vancouver’s advantage capitalizing off goalkeeper Joe Bendik’s deflection with a close-range finish in the 76th minute for a 2-1 advantage (Watch Goal).

Whitecaps FC continued a relentless attack, with Davies’s speed once again proving to be a difference maker as he outran an Orlando defender on the left flank before setting up Yordy Reyna’s easy finish in the center of the box in the 87th minute for a 4-1 lead (Watch Assist). Davies finished a historic day when recording his third assist in the 90th minute on Nicolás Mezquida’s strike, becoming the first Vancouver Whitecaps FC player to record three assists in one match (Watch Assist).

Vancouver Whitecaps FC return to MLS regular season action on Saturday, June 23 to face the Philadelphia Union at Talen Energy Stadium (5:00 p.m. ET, TSN1 / TSN5 / ESPN+).

The Alcatel MLS Player of the Week is chosen each week of the regular season by members of the North American Soccer Reporters. The organization includes print, television, radio and online journalists who cover domestic men's soccer in the United States and Canada. Learn more about the NASR and apply to join at https://www.facebook.com/soccerreporters/.

As the most diverse sports league in the world, MLS sees players from six countries set to participate in World Cup in Russia

NEW YORK (Thursday, June 14, 2018) – The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia begins today, and for Major League Soccer’s contingent of 19 players, representing six countries, it is a chance to be immortalized in history books during the greatest sporting event in the world.

Celebrations were in full swing Wednesday as FIFA announced that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, but now all eyes turn to this year’s tournament as the globe halts to watch the world’s game.

MLS PLAYERS IN 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP

COSTA RICA (6): Francisco Calvo (Minnesota United FC), David Guzmán (Portland Timbers), Rónald Matarrita (New York City FC), Marco Ureña (Los Angeles Football Club), Rodney Wallace (New York City FC), Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)

EGYPT (1): Omar Gaber (Los Angeles Football Club)

MEXICO (3): Giovani dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Jonathan dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Carlos Vela (Los Angeles Football Club)

PANAMA (6): Harold Cummings (San Jose Earthquakes), Fidel Escobar (New York Red Bulls), Anibal Godoy (San Jose Earthquakes), Adolfo Machado (Houston Dynamo), Michael Murillo (New York Red Bulls), Román Torres (Seattle Sounders FC)

PERU (2): Andy Polo (Portland Timbers), Yoshi Yotún (Orlando City SC)

SWEDEN (1): Gustav Svensson (Seattle Sounders FC)

MLS: The World’s Most Diverse Sports League: As the league of choice for many top players, MLS is the most diverse sports league in the world with players from more than 70 countries competing in 2018. Again leading the charge in diversity (as determined by birthplace) in the North American sports landscape, from a pool of 637 current players, 72 countries are represented in MLS compared with the second-most diverse league, the NBA, that boasts players from 45 countries.

Among those 637 players, 234 have been capped by their national teams and a total of 27 players from 11 FIFA World Cup-bound countries played a part in their respective nations’ World Cup Qualifiers during 2017.

Six-nation representation: For a second straight World Cup, six nations have current MLS players on their rosters, which, alongside the 2014 tournament, ties for the most in league history. The country representation includes six MLS players on both Costa Rica and Panama, three for Mexico, two for Peru and one each for Egypt and Sweden. Two other countries include former MLS players, with Australia featuring former New York Red Bulls forward Tim Cahill and former Montreal Impact midfielder Blerim Džemaili representing Switzerland.

Sixteen are new to the big stage: A total of 16 players will be competing in their first FIFA World Cup. Six players among this group are part of Panama’s first trip to the World Cup, including Seattle Sounders FC defender Román Torres, whose late goal against Costa Rica in the finale of the qualifying stage propelled his nation to Russia.

Three World Cup returnees: The MLS pool features three players who have competed at the World Cup previously, led by the LA Galaxy’s Giovani dos Santos, who is headed to his third World Cup for Mexico (2010, 2014, 2018). Dos Santos and the Los Angeles Football Club’s Carlos Vela (in his second World Cup appearance) were teammates on Mexico’s 2010 squad. LAFC forward Marco Ureña also prepares for his second World Cup appearance after representing Costa Rica at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Dos Santos duo marks first MLS brother pairing in World Cup: Heading into the 2018 FIFA World Cup, there have been 58 individual brothers who have played in FIFA World Cup history, either in the same tournament or in different tournaments. This year is unique one for MLS as the LA Galaxy’s Jonathan dos Santos and Giovani dos Santos will play alongside each other for Mexico. This year’s World Cup includes four sets of brothers: the dos Santos (Mexico), Eden and Thorgan Hazard (Belgium), Noureddine and Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco), and Anton and Alexei Miranchuk (Russia). Two sets of brothers have won the World Cup alongside each other: Germany’s Ottmar and Fritz Walter (1954) and England’s Bobby and Jack Charlton (1966).

FIFA World Cup Winners: Only 422 players throughout history have lifted the world’s most coveted trophy, two of whom currently play in MLS in the Chicago Fire’s Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, 2014) and New York City FC’s David Villa (Spain, 2010).  All-time, 11 World Cup winners have played on MLS squads yet none have won both the World Cup and MLS Cup in the same year. The 19 MLS players headed to Russia have the opportunity to join some illustrious company, for both country and club.

FLASHBACK TO QUALIFYING:

LA trio leads Mexico to most successful qualifying run: Mexico clinched its trip to Russia 2018 with several qualifying matches to spare following a 1-0 win against Panama on Sept. 1, 2017. It marked Mexico’s earliest World Cup qualification clinch in the country’s history. The Los Angeles Football Club’s first signing, Carlos Vela, and LA Galaxy brothers Giovani dos Santos and Jonathan dos Santos all featured during the qualifying stage to help Mexico earn its 16th FIFA World Cup appearance.

Torres boosts Panama to first World Cup: Seattle Sounders FC defender Román Torres is being hailed a hero after scoring the winning goal that lifted Panama to its first-ever FIFA World Cup. The last-minute drama took place on Oct. 10, 2017, when Torres’ right-footed strike in the 88th minute completed a 2-1 rally victory over favorited Costa Rica to book Panama’s spot in Russia.

Montreal Impact Midfielder Ignacio Piatti Voted Alcatel MLS Player of the Week

NEW YORK (Friday, June 15, 2018) – Montreal Impact midfielder Ignacio Piatti was voted the Alcatel Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the 16th week of the 2018 MLS season.

Montreal defeated Orlando City SC 3-0 on Wednesday night at Stade Saputo, with Piatti scoring two goals to help lift the Impact. Piatti has seven goals and six assists this season, making him the only player in the league to rank in the top 10 of both categories in 2018. The Impact sit ninth in the Eastern conference with 15 points (5-11-0 overall record).

Piatti put Montreal on the board in the early moments of the match with a penalty kick driven into the bottom left corner to give the Impact a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute (Watch Goal). Montreal doubled its lead when Piatti sent a ball out wide to Daniel Lovitz, whose cross in front of goal in the 55th minute forced the defense into an error resulting in an own goal to push the Impact lead to 2-0 (Watch).

The Argentine finished his impressive outing, scoring Montreal’s third goal in second half stoppage time. Piatti broke in behind the defense in the box with a pass from Saphir Taïder, then rounded Orlando goalkeeper Joe Bendik, finishing with a strike to goal to cap the Impact’s dominant 3-0 victory (Watch Goal). The brace was Piatti’s second multi-goal performance of the season and 12th in his MLS regular season career.  

Montreal returns to MLS regular season action on Saturday, June 23 to face Orlando City SC at Orlando City Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET, TVAS / ESPN+).

The Alcatel MLS Player of the Week is chosen each week of the regular season by members of the North American Soccer Reporters. The organization includes print, television, radio and online journalists who cover domestic men's soccer in the United States and Canada. Learn more about the NASR and apply to join at https://www.facebook.com/soccerreporters/.