Frisco, Texas (July 2, 2025) – North Texas SC defender Isaiah Kaakoush and midfielder Steel Cook have been selected for the MLS NEXT All-Star Game presented by Allstate. The fourth annual match will be played at Parmer Field in Austin, Texas on Monday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed live on MLS’ YouTube channel.
Kaakoush signed with North Texas SC on May 9, 2024, and made his professional debut as a substitute against Sporting KC II on Sept. 29, 2024, scoring the game-tying goal. Kaakoush the has made eight appearances this season logging 466 minutes played. He becomes the second signed NTSC player to be selected for the MLS NEXT All-Star game. Kaakoush also played in the MLS NEXT Fest, GA Cup and MLS NEXT Flex in the 2024-25 season.
Cook made his North Texas SC debut as an FC Dallas Academy player on July 21, 2024, becoming the youngest player to make their debut for NTSC at 14 years, 9 months and 8 days. He also became the fifth-youngest player to debut in MLS NEXT Pro. Cook played with the FC Dallas U-16 Academy in the MLS NEXT Fest, GA Cup, MLS NEXT Flex, and MLS NEXT Cup during the 2024-25 season with the FC Dallas U-18 Academy.
Kaakoush and Cook become the fifth and sixth players to represent the FC Dallas Academy in the MLS NEXT All-Star Game. It marks the second time two Dallas players have been selected in the same year and the first since 2022.
MLS NEXT and Allstate will provide the players with unique opportunities during MLS All-Star Week, which will include a full slate of programming events. The players will be fully immersed in MLS All-Star Week festivities, including team training, the All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T on July 22, and the MLS All-Star Game on July 23.
The 44 players were selected following the conclusion of the 2024-25 regular season and 2025 MLS NEXT Cup. To be eligible for selection, players must have been born between 2008-10 and have competed in either the MLS NEXT regular season or in at least one of MLS NEXT’s premier events: MLS NEXT Fest, MLS NEXT Flex, Generation adidas Cup, or MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs.
FC Dallas Academy MLS NEXT All-Star Selections
- Malachi Molina, 2022
- Julian Eyestone, 2023
- Luke Shreiner, 2023
- Leonardo Orejarena, 2024
- Steel Cook, 2025
- Isaiah Kaakoush, 2025
