MLS D.C. United

Steve Birnbaum Selected to 2016 MLS All-Star Roster

Published on July 17, 2016 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
D.C. United News Release


WASHINGTON - D.C. United defender Steve Birnbaum has been selected to the 2016 MLS All-Star roster that will represent the league against Arsenal F.C. at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif., on July 28. In 2016, the central defender has made 13 appearances (playing all 90 minutes in each) and leads the team in Aerial Duels Won (67 percent). A member of the U.S. Men's National Team, Birnbaum featured in World Cup Qualifiers and Copa America Centenario throughout the first half the MLS season. The six-foot-one defender is one of 16 players named to the All-Star roster for the first time.

Since making his USMNT debut on January 28, 2015, Birnbaum has made seven international appearances. The California native scored his first international goal several days after his debut, a 90th-minute game-winner on January 31, 2016 against Iceland. Selected by the Black-and-Red as the second overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, Birnbaum has been an imposing presence in the United backline; he was named a Rookie of the Year finalist in 2014, has made 56 career appearances and scored two goals.

Major League Soccer's best take on English club Arsenal FC in the 2016 AT&T MLS All-Star Game at 4:30 PM PT live on ESPN, UniMás, UDN, TSN and RDS.

The 26-man Gameday Roster is made up of 24 players chosen by All-Star coach Dominic Kinnear, taking into consideration the All-Star Fan XI and player voting, and the two Commissioner's Picks. The Gameday Roster includes representation from 19 MLS clubs and is a mix of 16 All-Star newcomers and 10 All-Star veterans.

All eleven 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).

Check out the D.C. United Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from July 17, 2016


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.

OurSports Central