FRISCO, Texas (June 29, 2023) – Julian Eyestone has earned a spot in the second annual MLS NEXT All-Star match presented by Allstate. The game will feature two teams competing in an East versus West matchup on July 19, at 9:30AM CT at the Naval Academy’s Glenn Warner Soccer Facility in Annapolis, Maryland.
Eyestone, 17, helped the FC Dallas U17 Academy reach the final at the 2023 Generation Adidas Cup. He was named U17 Best Goalkeeper of the tournament after registering two shutouts in group stage play, and two shutouts in playoffs. Eyestone also helped FC Dallas win two shootouts to advance throughout the 2023 GA Cup. Eyestone is the second FC Dallas Academy player to feature in MLS NEXT All-Star match after defender Malachi Molina was the first to participate in the inaugural event in 2022.
“I am excited and happy to have been selected,” Goalkeeper Julian Eyestone said. “My family knew before me and having them there with me when I found out was special. I am looking forward to being in D.C. playing alongside some great players.”
Eyestone made his North Texas SC debut on Decision Day 2022 versus Houston Dynamo 2. He has since made eight appearances, registered 31 saves and earned three shutouts for North Texas.
The 44 players were selected by MLS NEXT personnel following the conclusion of the 2023 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase. To be eligible for selection, players must have been born between 2005-2007, have competed in the MLS NEXT regular season, and played in at least one of the MLS NEXT premier events this season – MLS NEXT Fest, MLS NEXT Flex, Generation adidas Cup, or the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase. All 29 MLS academies had at least one player selected to the roster, and nine clubs had multiple selections. Five non-MLS academies will also be represented in Annapolis: BW Gottschee, FC DELCO, Real Colorado, Strikers FC, Total Futbol Academy.
East | West | ||||
Player | Team | Birthyear | Player | Team | Birthyear |
Nathaniel Abraham | Toronto FC | 2007 | Jeevan Badwal | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2006 |
Ignacio Alem | D.C. United | 2006 | Nati Clarke | Sporting Kansas City | 2005 |
Davi Alexandre | New York Red Bulls | 2007 | Julian Eyestone | FC Dallas | 2006 |
Gaël De Montigny | CF Montréal | 2006 | Caden Glover | St. Louis CITY SC | 2007 |
Charlie DeMarco | BW Gottschee | 2005 | Zavier Gozo | Real Salt Lake | 2007 |
Olger Escobar | New England Revolution | 2006 | Stuart Hawkins | Seattle Sounders FC | 2006 |
Caden Grabfelder | FC DELCO | 2005 | Sawyer Jura | Portland Timbers | 2006 |
Taha Habroune | Columbus Crew | 2006 | Tate Lampman | Houston Dynamo FC | 2006 |
Tyler Hall | Inter Miami CF | 2006 | Grant Lund | Real Colorado | 2006 |
Stiven Jimenez | FC Cincinnati | 2007 | Edwyn Mendoza | San Jose Earthquakes | 2006 |
Graham Jones | D.C. United | 2006 | Harbor Miller | LA Galaxy | 2007 |
Shawn Lanza | Atlanta United | 2006 | Ajani Nixon | LAFC | 2006 |
Ryder Mills | FC Cincinnati | 2005 | Moises Prado | Total Futbol Academy | 2006 |
Michael Nesci | Chicago Fire FC | 2005 | Kage Romanshyn | Minnesota United FC | 2005 |
James Nyandjo | Charlotte FC | 2007 | Andre Romo | Colorado Rapids | 2006 |
Neil Pierre | Philadelphia Union | 2007 | Paulo Rudisill | LA Galaxy | 2006 |
Tahir Reid-Brown | Orlando City SC | 2006 | Maxim Scordo | Strikers FC | 2007 |
Rocket Ritarita | Atlanta United | 2007 | Mohammed Shour | Seattle Sounders FC | 2007 |
Jonathan Shore | New York City FC | 2007 | Ervin Torres | Austin FC | 2007 |
Adem Sipić | Nashville SC | 2006 | Oscar Verhoeven | San Jose Earthauakes | 2006 |
Lazar Stefanovic | Toronto FC | 2006 | Jude Wellings | Real Salt Lake | 2006 |
TBA | TBA | TBA | Adrian Wibowo | LAFC | 2006 |
MLS NEXT personnel also advised on the selection of the coaching staff for both East and West teams. The head coach of the East team will be D.C. United academy director Patrick Ouckama. Ouckama has been with D.C.’s academy since 2021 and has over a decade of coaching experience in MLS, college, and at the youth club level. Under Ouckama’s stewardship, D.C. United won the U-16 MLS NEXT Cup title in 2022. The assistant coach will be MLS Great and Atlanta United U-16 head coach Kevin Kratz, who led the Five Stripes to this season’s U-16 MLS NEXT Cup championship.
The West squad head coach will be former U.S. Men’s National Team defender and current St. Louis CITY SC U-15 head coach Anthony Wallace. As a coach, Wallace previously spent time with various teams in Washington including Hawks SC, Eastern Washington Surf SC, and Washington State University Women’s Soccer. Wallace had an 11-year professional career and saw MLS action for FC Dallas, the Colorado Rapids, and the New York Red Bulls. Strikers FC head coach Willie Diaz will serve as assistant coach for the West squad, after leading the U-16 side to the final of MLS NEXT Cup in each of the last two seasons. Diaz has over a decade of collegiate and youth club coaching experience in his career.
The match will be streamed live from MLS NEXT’s (@mlsnext) TikTok account with multiple access points in the app. Admission to the MLS NEXT All-Star Game presented by Allstate at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility is free of cost. Fans are highly encouraged to park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and ride the free shuttle bus to and from the game due to security restrictions. Pedestrians can enter through the Naval Academy Visitors Center where they must go through security and present a valid U.S. ID.
