VANCOUVER, BC –Kendall Waston is headed to the 2016 MLS All-Star Game.
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC centre back was selected by San Jose Earthquakes head coach Dominic Kinnear, who will serve as this year's MLS All-Star coach. Kinnear chose 24 players, taking into consideration the All-Star Fan XI and player voting.
MLS commissioner Don Garber selected an additional two players, rounding out a 26-man gameday roster that will face perennial English Premier League powerhouse Arsenal FC on Thursday, July 28 at Avaya Stadium in San Jose (4:30 p.m. PT kickoff on TSN).
"For me, to be on the All-Star team is a blessing," Waston told whitecapsfc.com. "It’s an honour to represent my club in this big game. It means a lot to me. To be honest, I didn’t expect it but I’m obviously not going to say no. I’m really, really happy to be there."
On facing Arsenal, Waston said "it's like a dream come true," adding that he's looking forward to playing against his Costa Rican international teammate Joel Campbell.
Waston, one of 16 All-Star newcomers on the roster, has two goals on the season, coming in the season opener against Montreal Impact and in last week's 2-2 draw against Colorado Rapids.
Waston nods @WhitecapsFC in front. #VANvCOLhttps://t.co/6DU0MMJYHj
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 10, 2016
His scoring total is just one back from the league-high in goals by a defender.
Currently in his third MLS season, the 6-foot-5 Costa Rican international has started 15 MLS regular season matches so far this season. He’s tied for third in the league in headed clearances (55) and has recorded the eighth most clearances (86) in total. He also earned an MLS Team of the Week selection in Week 3 after standing tall in a 2-1 win over Seattle Sounders FC.
Waston becomes the fourth Whitecaps FC player to represent the club in the annual summer showcase after Jay DeMerit (2012), Camilo (2013), and current goalkeeper David Ousted (2015).
Last year, the 28-year-old San José, Costa Rica native was named to the MLS Best XI and was a finalist of the MLS Defender of the Year award.
All 11 players named to the All-Star Fan XI, nominated by media and selected by fans, were named to the Gameday Roster including: Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Laurent Ciman (Montreal Impact), Keegan Rosenberry (Philadelphia Union), Kaká (Orlando City SC), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Andrea Pirlo (New York City FC), Giovani dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Didier Drogba (Montreal Impact), Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC), and David Villa (New York City FC – AT&T/EA SPORTS™ “More Than a Vote” Challenge).
Joining the Fan XI are 13 additional league standouts: goalkeeper David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), defenders Brandon Vincent (Chicago Fire), Liam Ridgewell (Portland Timbers), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Andrew Farrell (New England Revolution), midfielders Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), and forwards Ignacio Piatti (Montreal Impact), Cyle Larin (Orlando City SC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes) and Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC).
Rounding out the roster are the two Commissioner’s Picks, midfielders Mauro Diaz (FC Dallas) and Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake).
2016 MLS All-Star Game Roster by Position
Goalkeeper: David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union)
Defenders: Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Laurent Ciman (Montreal Impact), Andrew Farrell (New England Revolution), Liam Ridgewell (Portland Timbers), Keegan Rosenberry (Philadelphia Union), Brandon Vincent (Chicago Fire), Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Mauro Diaz (FC Dallas), Giovani dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), Kaká (Orlando City SC), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Andrea Pirlo (New York City FC), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC)
Forwards: Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Didier Drogba (Montreal Impact), Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC), Cyle Larin (Orlando City SC), Ignacio Piatti (Montreal Impact), David Villa (New York City FC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
2016 MLS All-Star Gameday Roster by Team
Chicago Fire (1): Brandon Vincent
Colorado Rapids (1): Jermaine Jones
Columbus Crew SC (1): Wil Trapp
D.C. United (1): Steve Birnbaum
FC Dallas (1): Mauro Diaz
LA Galaxy (1): Giovani dos Santos
Montreal Impact (3): Laurent Ciman, Didier Drogba, Ignacio Piatti
New England Revolution (1): Andrew Farrell
New York City FC (2): Andrea Pirlo, David Villa
New York Red Bulls (1): Sacha Kljestan
Orlando City SC (2): Kaká, Cyle Larin
Philadelphia Union (2): Andre Blake, Keegan Rosenberry
Portland Timbers (2): Darlington Nagbe, Liam Ridgewell
Real Salt Lake (1): Kyle Beckerman
San Jose Earthquakes (2): David Bingham, Chris Wondolowski
Seattle Sounders FC (1): Clint Dempsey
Sporting Kansas City (1): Matt Besler
Toronto FC (1): Sebastian Giovinco
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1): Kendall Waston
Be a part of the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver! Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket, and single match tickets. For more information, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
