Hundreds of Aspiring Players Register for Nationally-Televised Sueño MLS

April 6, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release

NEW YORK (Friday, April 6, 2012) - Hundreds of aspiring young soccer players from across the United States have already signed up for Sueño MLS 2012 - presented by Allstate, the premier nationally televised search for the best undiscovered soccer talent in America, which this year will include tryouts April 14-29 at FC Dallas, Seattle Sounders FC and CD Chivas USA (see calendar below).

Though most spots have been filled, players are being urged to continue registering for the three tryouts by visiting www.SuenoMLS.com. Once all the slots are filled, players will be able to register on the waiting list. The first ever winner, Chivas USA standout Jorge Villafaña, was a waiting list winner when he won the inaugural edition in 2007.

The tryouts will be chronicled on Univision Network's "República Deportiva" (Sports Republic), the highest-rated weekly sports entertainment show on Spanish-language television, which will follow the action in a unique "reality show within a show" format (airs Sundays at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT/12 p.m. PT). The program's co-host Felix Fernandez is scheduled to be on-site at select Sueño MLS events.

In each tryout city, field players will be battling for one of five invitations to a week-long trial with their respective youth development host club and a ticket to the exciting four-day "Final Event" which will be staged in the greater Los Angeles area and be hosted by MLS Argentine soccer legend Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The finals will include training sessions, scrimmages, guest celebrity scouts, and an opportunity to meet some of the League's biggest stars. The ultimate champion will be crowned on Sunday, May 13, live on "República Deportiva" (see calendar below for more information).

Returning to Sueño MLS for a second year is the Allstate "Good Hands © " top goalkeeper award - El Portero Allstate. One goalkeeper at each of the three local tryouts will be selected as the top goalkeeper and will also compete in the "Final Event" for the opportunity to be named El Portero Allstate and train with a MLS youth team. El Portero Allstate will be selected in conjunction with the winner of the Sueño MLS 2012 - presented by Allstate, and mentored by Mexican goalkeeping legend Adolfo Rios.

Since its inception in 2007, Sueño MLS has given thousands of talented young athletes a chance to showcase their skills and impress youth development scouts. The original winner, Villafaña (formerly Jorge Flores) of Anaheim, Calif., is now in his sixth year with MLS' Chivas USA. The 2008 FC Dallas Sueño MLS winner, Gabriel Funes Mori, played with the FC Dallas Juniors U-18 team before moving on to Argentina's legendary side River Plate, where he plays alongside his twin brother Jose, a Dallas Sueño MLS finalist that same year.

MLS partners participating in Sueño MLS 2012- presented by Allstate, also include adidas, Degree Men, Gatorade, Pepsi and Volkswagen.

2012 TIMELINE

April 14-15 Local market tryouts (FC Dallas)

April 21-22 Local market tryouts (Seattle Sounders FC)

April 28-29 Local market tryouts (Chivas USA)

May 9-13 National Finals in Los Angeles

May 13 Announcement of winner on República Deportiva

PARTICIPANT ELIGIBILITY :

Eligible players must be males between the ages of 14 and 18 years old (born between dates of April 13, 1998 and May 14, 1994) with appropriate identification and retain their amateur status. Current collegiate student athletes will not be permitted to attend the final event in Carson, CA. Sueño MLS participants will be responsible for all personal expenses associated with the local market tryout, including travel to local tryouts, lodging, food, soccer equipment (shoes, training gear, etc.), etc. Program sponsors will cover all expenses for eighteen (18) participants selected to attend the final event in Carson, CA. For more information, please visit www.SueñoMLS.com . Participation in the event is free. Players may not register for more than one city.

Major League Soccer Stories from April 6, 2012

• Sporting KC Hosts LA Galaxy on Saturday - Sporting Kansas City
• San Jose Earthquakes Host Vancouver Whitecaps FC on April 7 - San Jose Earthquakes
• RSL Match Preview: Real Salt Lake V. Colorado Rapids - Real Salt Lake
• Impact Faces Toronto FC Saturday at Olympic Stadium - Club de Foot Montreal
• Hundreds of Aspiring Players Register for Nationally-Televised Sueño MLS - MLS
• Whitecaps FC Set for San Jose Earthquakes - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
• Philadelphia Union to Play Reading United A.C. on June 9 - Philadelphia Union
• United Drives to Collect Pet Supplies During April - D.C. United
• Lance Rozeboom Undergoes Successful Surgery - D.C. United

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.