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MLS Homegrown Team to Face Club América U-20s in Second Annual Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game

May 26, 2015 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


NEW YORK (Tuesday, May 26, 2015) - Major League Soccer today announced that the MLS Homegrown Team will face Club América's U-20 squad in the second annual Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game. The match will be held on Tuesday, July 28 at 7:00 p.m. MT at Dick's Sporting Goods Park - home of the Colorado Rapids - as a prelude to the 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Game the following night. The first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a free limited edition scarf.

Tickets include entrance to both the 2015 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game as well as the MLS WORKS/Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star Soccer Match being held immediately prior on the game field at 5:00 p.m. MT.

The Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game provides a yearly opportunity for MLS to showcase its top young talent and youth development system. MLS club youth academies have now produced nearly 150 Homegrown Players who have signed professional contracts with MLS clubs. Homegrown talents including LA Galaxy's Gyasi Zardes and Columbus Crew SC's Wil Trapp have recently worked their way onto the U.S. Men's National Team, earning six combined caps so far in 2015. MLS Homegrown Players have also served as a steady force on U.S. youth national teams, with seven players named to the official U.S. U-20 roster for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup that starts this week, and three Homegrowns - including Colorado's very own Shane O'Neill and Dillon Serna - called into the most recent U.S. U-23 Olympic qualifying camp that will participate in the prestigious 2015 Toulon Tournament in France.

"The development of Major League Soccer's youth academy system continues to be one of the league's highest priorities," said Todd Durbin, Executive Vice President of Player Relations and Competition. "Now in its second year, the Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game is a great platform to showcase many outstanding homegrown talents our clubs have produced, and who are not participating in the All-Star Game. We are excited to welcome the Club América U-20 team as this year's opponent, which should make for a highly entertaining and competitive match."

"At the core of our effort to change the way people think about and eat fast food is our commitment to finding better, more sustainable sources for all of the ingredients we use," said Mark Crumpacker, Chipotle's chief creative and development officer. "That value is one that is often shared by people with an active lifestyle. This partnership with MLS will allow us to further engage consumers in a sport we have long supported through grassroots efforts."

The Club América U-20 team is the official youth squad of Club América - Mexico's most successful fútbol club. The Mexico City-based team, which calls the famed Estadio Azteca its home, has won a record 12 Liga MX titles as well as five Copa Mexico cups and five Campeon de Campeones titles. Club América most recently won the 2014-15 Apertura championship and took home the 2014-15 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League title for a record-tying sixth time, after defeating the Montreal Impact in the CCL final on April 29. The Club América U-20 team finished atop the Fuerzas Básicas Sub 20 table with a 10-2-5 record and features some of Mexico's brightest future stars, including leading goal scorer Diego Pineda, and fellow forward Alejandro Díaz. Both youth standouts were recently named to Mexico's official U-20 World Cup roster and were members of the U-20 squad that took home the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship earlier this year

"We are honored to partake in the Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game this summer, as we too believe in the importance of the development of future stars," said Ricardo Pelaez, Club America President. "We look forward to a competitive match in Denver, where we hope our fans will come out and support the team."

All MLS clubs will nominate at least three of their Homegrown Players to an initial list to be voted on by MLS club technical staffs. Clubs that do not have three Homegrown Players must nominate at least one Homegrown Player from their roster. Players with the most votes, in consultation with this year's MLS Homegrown Team coaching staff, will be named to the game day roster. Due to 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Game selections, the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament, and other potential conflicts, the 2015 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game roster is subject to change. Details on how MLS fans can watch the game will be released at a later date.

MLS Homegrown Players are a specialized group of players that have trained with an MLS club's youth development program for at least one year and trained with the academy team for 80 days in that time span. Players that meet those qualifications can sign a professional contract with the club's senior team without being subject to the SuperDraft.

2015 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game

Tuesday, July 28 - Dick's Sporting Goods Park - All Times Local

4:00 p.m. Gates Open

5:00 p.m. MLS WORKS/Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star Soccer Match

7:00 p.m. 2015 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game (MLS Homegrown Team vs. Club América U-20s)

Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game History

2014: MLS Homegrown Team 0-0 Portland Timbers U-23s

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