VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Alphonso Davies has been named to the 18-man roster for the 2017 MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer®, Major League Soccer announced today.
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 5 p.m. PT at Toyota Park.
Davies recently became the first player born in 2000 or after to score in any full national team tournament worldwide. The 16-year-old scored two goals for Canada in last week’s 4-2 win over French Guiana in the opening game of the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, making him the youngest goalscorer in Gold Cup and Canadian men’s national team history. He then followed that up with another goal in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Costa Rica.
For club, Davies has made 34 career appearances with the Whitecaps FC first team since debuting in last year's Canadian Championship, scoring four goals in all competitions.
Davies, a resident of Edmonton, Alberta who joined the Whitecaps FC Residency program in 2015, is one of three Canadians on the MLS Homegrown roster, which was selected by head coach Brian McBride and assistant coach Mike Magee. The other Canadians are Montreal Impact midfielder Ballou Tabla and Toronto FC striker Jordan Hamilton.
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.
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 3 p.m. PT at Toyota Park.
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 12:30 p.m. PT. 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)
Bios for 2017 MLS Homegrown Team
Jesse Gonzalez Goalkeeper FC Dallas Nationality: USA/Mexico Born: May 25, 1995
Making his third appearance in the MLS Homegrown Game (2015, 2016), Gonzalez burst onto the scene near the end of the 2015 season when he assumed the starting goalkeeper position. Gonzalez started the final 11 games of the regular season, compiling a 7-3-1 record and leading Dallas atop the Western Conference standings heading into the postseason. This season, Gonzalez has registered a career-high 15 matches started, putting out five shutout performances. Although he has represented Mexico at numerous youth levels, Gonzalez was called into the United States preliminary roster for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
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.
Marco Farfan Defender Portland Timbers Nationality: USA Born: November 12, 1998
Farfan became the youngest player to sign with the Timbers in club history, signing as a Homegrown Player on October 14, 2016. The 18-year-old has five starts in six appearances for Portland this season. Although eligible to represent Mexico, Farfan has played for the United States at multiple youth levels, most recently receiving a call to play for the U-19 team at a Florida training camp in February. Last season with USL side Timbers 2, Farfan started all 18 of his appearances before making the jump to the first team this year.
Kortne Ford Defender Colorado Rapids Nationality: USA Born: January 26, 1996
The 21-year old defender has started in eight matches for Colorado this season, scoring his first career goal on May 27 to give the Rapids a 1-0 win against Sporting Kansas City. Ford signed as a Homegrown Player on January 6 following a tremendous three-year career with the University of Denver, leading the Pioneers to the program’s first ever College Cup appearance in 2016. At Denver, Ford was a to-time All-Summit League First Team selection, adding an offensive punch with five goals and three assists over his collegiate career.
Justen Glad Defender Real Salt Lake Nationality: USA Born: February 28, 1997
The 20-year old defender is already in his fourth season for Real Salt Lake, signing as a Homegrown Player in April 2014. Glad experienced a breakout campaign in 2016 with two goals and an assist in 28 matches played for RSL. Earlier this year, Glad was named to the Best XI squad in the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship and also suited up for the United States at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Glad is making his third appearance in the MLS Homegrown Game (2015, 2016).
Auston Trusty Defender Philadelphia Union Nationality: USA Born: August 12, 1998
Signed as the fifth Homegrown Player in Union history in August 2016, Trusty is the first player to have graduated from Philadelphia’s academy. Trusty has represented the United States at the youth international level including appearances at the 2015 U-17 World Cup in Chile and the 2017 U-20 World Cup in Korea Republic. Trusty was also part of the U.S. squad that captured its first CONCACAF U-20 Championship title earlier this year.
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.
Alphonso Davies Midfielder Vancouver Whitecaps FC Nationality: Canada/Liberia Born: November 2, 2000
Davies burst onto the scene for Vancouver last season after becoming the third-youngest signing in MLS history on July 15, 2016. In the year since, Davies has appeared in CONCACAF Champions League and Canadian Championship play, scoring four goals, in addition to 13 appearances in MLS regular season play in 2017. Since becoming a Canadian citizen last month, Davies has gone on to play in three matches for the Canadian National Team, scoring three goals in two games at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, becoming the youngest player ever to score in the tournament.
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).
Derrick Jones Midfielder/Defender Philadelphia Union Nationality: USA/Ghana Born: March 3, 1997
Jones became the fourth Homegrown Player in Union history in July 2016. The 20-year-old started Philadelphia’s first game of 2017 to make his MLS regular season debut on March 5 against Vancouver and has gone on to make eight starts over 11 appearances this season. Born in Ghana, Jones was cleared earlier this year to represent the United States, starring for the U.S. at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. In addition to his career with the Union, Jones was the first signing in USL affiliate Bethlehem Steel’s history.
Brooks Lennon Midfielder/Forward Real Salt Lake Nationality: USA Born: September 22, 1997
Originally developed in Real Salt Lake’s academy system, Lennon currently has one goal and one assist this season for RSL while on loan from English Premier League side Liverpool. Lennon has represented the United States at multiple youth levels, most recently suiting up at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. The 19-year-old was also named to the Best XI squad at the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championships after helping the U.S. to its first ever title at the tournament.
Djordje Mihailovic Midfielder Chicago Fire Nationality: USA Born: November 10, 1998
In his first season as a professional, Mihailovic has made six appearances for Chicago’s Eastern Conference leading squad, including appearances in each of the Fire’s previous three matches. The Fire signed Mihailovic on January 17, 2017, making him the ninth Homegrown Player in club history. Mihailovic has represented the United States at numerous youth levels, most recently receiving the call to play for the U-19 team at a Florida training camp in February.
Paxton Pomykal Midfielder FC Dallas Nationality: USA Born: December 17, 1999
The 17-year-old was signed to a Homegrown Player contract by FC Dallas in September 2016, the 15th in club history. Pomykal made his MLS debut on March 3 against Sporting Kansas City, the first of two consecutive starts for Dallas. Most recently, Pomykal has represented the United States at the Under-18 level, scoring a goal to help the club win the 2016 Vacalv Jezek Tournament Championship in August.
Ballou Tabla Midfielder Montreal Impact Nationality: Canada/Ivory Coast Born: March 31, 1999
Signed to a Homegrown Player contract in October 2016, Tabla has been a bright spot for Montreal this season, scoring two goals and adding one assist in his MLS debut season. Despite being only 18 years old, Tabla was named Canada’s U-20 Men’s Player of the Year in 2016, also receiving the same honor for the U-17 category in 2014. Born in Ivory Coast, Tabla has represented Canada at multiple youth levels since the age of 14 and is also the youngest player to play for Montreal during the club’s time in MLS.
Andrew Carleton Forward Atlanta United Nationality: USA Born: June 22, 2000
The first Homegrown Player signing in Atlanta United history, Carleton has starred for the United States at multiple levels of the youth national team, most recently helping the U.S. to a second-place finish in the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship and a birth into October’s 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Carleton scored two goals in the CONCACAF U-17 Champinoship, including the United States only goal in the title game. The 17-year-old has one MLS regular season appearance for Atlanta this season.
Jesus Ferreira Forward FC Dallas Nationality: USA/Colombia Born: December 24, 2000
Ferreira became the second-youngest player to ever score in an MLS regular season game, scoring his first career goal to help FC Dallas to a 6-2 victory over Real Salt Lake on June 3. Signed to a homegrown contract in November 2016, the 16-year-old is the second-youngest player to ever sign with FC Dallas. The son of former MLS MVP David Ferreira, Ferreira is the youngest player ever to receive a call to play in the MLS Homegrown Game.
Jordan Hamilton Forward Toronto FC Nationality: Canada Born: March 17, 1996
Hamilton has proven productive for Toronto FC this season, scoring two goals and adding one assist in six games played off the bench. Following multiple appearances at various youth levels, including representing Canada at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Hamilton made his senior Canada debut in October 2014. The 21-year-old most recently played in Canada’s October 2016 friendly victory over Mauritania. This is Hamilton’s second selection to the MLS Homegrown Game (2016).
Bradford Jamieson IV Forward LA Galaxy Nationality: USA Born: October 18, 1996
Jamieson is making his third appearance in the MLS Homegrown Game (2014, 2015). The sixth Homegrown Player signing in Galaxy history, Jamieson has played in a career high nine games this season, registering one goal and one assist in 2017. Jamieson represented the United States at the 2015 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, also making multiple appearances in his career for the U.S. U-17 team. In 2014, Jamieson was also a finalist for the USL Rookie of the Year award.
