VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Theo Bair has been named to the roster for the 2019 MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer, the league announced on Wednesday.
Players from the Canada and United States youth national teams will represent the league in the annual showcase, as they go up against Chivas de Guadalajara’s U-20 team on Tuesday, July 30 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, FL. Part of the MLS All-Star festivities, the match will be streamed live on Twitter, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. PT.
Having made his MLS debut last May, Bair is one of four players on the Homegrown roster to play for Canada’s U-20 team at the Concacaf U-20 Championship. He is joined by Toronto FC midfielder Noble Okello, and Montreal Impact midfielder Mathieu Choinière and defender Daniel Kinumbe
The 19-year old has three substitute appearances in his first MLS season, while also featuring for the Whitecaps FC development squad, including their trip to South Korea last month. Bair joined Whitecaps FC in August 2015, then signed a MLS Homegrown pre-contract in 2018 after featuring for the club’s Academy U-16 and U-18/U-19 sides.
Besides last year’s Concacaf U-20 Championship, the Ottawa product also represented Canada at the U-21 level in the 2018 Festival International Espoirs Provence.
Joining a list of formidable opponents to participate in the MLS Homegrown Game, Chivas de Guadalajara U-20 team brings an accomplished track record to the match. The club captured the Liga MX Clausura 2019 U-20 title and features players that have received time with both the Chivas reserve squad and the first team side that has captured three titles over the previous three years.
Orlando City SC Academy Director Marcelo Neveleff will serve as the head coach for the Homegrown Team against Chivas. Neveleff previously served as the first team assistant coach for the New England Revolution and was part of the staff to coach the United States at the 2017 Concacaf U-20 Championship.
2019 MLS Homegrown Team Roster
Goalkeepers: Matt Freese (Philadelphia Union), David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake), Mason Stajduhar (Orlando City SC)
Defenders: Aboubacar Keita (Columbus Crew SC), Daniel Kinumbe (Montreal Impact), Erik McCue (Houston Dynamo), Donovan Pines (D.C. United), Bryan Reynolds (FC Dallas), Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids)
Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Philadelphia Union), Cole Bassett (Colorado Rapids), Gianluca Busio (Sporting Kansas City), Edwin Cerrillo (FC Dallas), Mathieu Choinière (Montreal Impact), Noble Okello (Toronto FC), Thomas Roberts (FC Dallas), Brandon Servania (FC Dallas)
Forwards: Theo Bair (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Handwalla Bwana (Seattle Sounders FC), Omir Fernandez (New York Red Bulls), Benji Michel (Orlando City SC), Justin Rennicks (New England Revolution)
