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NEW YORK (Thursday, July 7, 2022) – MLS NEXT today announced details of the inaugural MLS NEXT All-Star Game presented by Allstate, which will provide a world-class experience for 44 of the best young players in North America to showcase their talent on a national stage. Forty-four of the top MLS NEXT players, 22 per team, will compete in an East vs. West format at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. on the day of the MLS All-Star Game, Wednesday, August 10.
MLS NEXT and Allstate will provide the selected players with a once-in-a-lifetime player experience during MLS All-Star Week, with a full slate of evening programming events and activities in advance of gameday. The players will be fully integrated into MLS All-Star Week festivities while training and competing in their own All-Star Game.
“The MLS NEXT All-Star Game presented by Allstate provides us the opportunity to celebrate and recognize many of the top young players competing in our league and give them a large platform to showcase their talents,” said MLS Vice President, Player and Youth Development Fred Lipka. “These players will have a true MLS All-Star experience ahead of their game, and we hope that participating in this game will only strengthen the drive of these young stars as they look towards competing at the professional level.”
“This partnership is an extension of our goal to preserve, protect, and grow the future of the sport in North America,” said Allstate Director, Sponsorships and Consumer Engagement Dan Keats. “We hope our support of MLS NEXT will help advance the game and positively impact the next generation of MLS stars for years to come.”
The 44 players will be chosen by the MLS NEXT Player Selection Committee, which is made up of key MLS Player Development department personnel, following the conclusion of the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase. Players must be U-18 (born in 2004 or earlier) and have competed in one of the MLS NEXT national showcase events this season, including MLS NEXT Fest, MLS NEXT Flex, Generation adidas Cup, and MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase. Complete rosters will be announced later this summer.
The MLS NEXT Player Selection Committee will also advise on the selection of the coaching staff for both East and West teams, with each coaching staff comprised of a head coach, two assistant coaches, a goalkeeper coach and a fitness and strength coach. The full coaching staff for both teams will be announced at a later date.
The match will be streamed live and further tune-in details will be available at a later date. Admission to the MLS NEXT All-Star Game presented by Allstate at the National Sports Center is free of cost.
As part of today’s MLS NEXT All-Star Game news, Allstate, the official insurance partner of Major League Soccer, is deepening its commitment to soccer by also announcing a multi-year extension of their partnership with the League. Allstate’s dedication to youth soccer and its players is central to its relationship with MLS.
About Major League Soccer
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer – celebrating its 27th season in 2022 – features 29 clubs throughout the United States and Canada, including 2022 expansion team Charlotte FC and St. Louis City SC, which debuts in 2023. Starting in 2023, the Apple TV app will be the exclusive destination to watch every single live MLS match. For more information about MLS, visit www.MLSsoccer.com.
About MLS NEXT
MLS NEXT is a new paradigm for player development, launched in 2020 to transform youth soccer in North America. Founded on a collaborative approach to governance and a commitment to innovation, MLS NEXT players have access to the highest level of competition, training and personal development opportunities that will prepare them for their futures, both in soccer and in life. Membership for the 2021-22 season includes 133 clubs, 598 teams and over 12,000 players across the U.S. and Canada. Official partners of MLS NEXT include adidas, Allstate, DoorDash, and the University of South Carolina. For more information about MLS NEXT, visit www.mlssoccer.com/mlsnext.
About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) protects people from life's uncertainties with a wide array of protection for cars, homes, electronic devices and identity theft. Affordable products are available through a broad distribution network including Allstate agents, independent agents, major retailers, online and at the workplace. Allstate is widely known for the slogan "You're in Good Hands with Allstate." For more information, visit www.allstate.com.
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