On Tuesday, July 26, MLS WORKS and ESPN will host a Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star soccer match featuring Special Olympics All-Stars representing 18 MLS clubs from the U.S. and Canada.
The two Unified Sports All-Star soccer teams (comprised of players both with and without intellectual disabilities, wearing uniforms provided by adidas) will play a match, consisting of two 35-minute halves, at Avaya Stadium immediately following MLS All-Star open training. The team uniforms for the game will be provided by adidas.
ESPN soccer analyst and commentator Taylor Twellman will serve as sideline reporter, providing color commentary and interviews with players and coaches throughout the match. MLS All-Stars will be on hand greeting the athletes as they take the field, and San Jose Earthquakes players will serve as celebrity coaches for both teams, as well as presenting the Unified athletes with medals following the game.
The game will showcase the Special Olympics Unified Sports exchange program, the cornerstone of the ongoing partnership between MLS and Special Olympics North America. Through the Unified Sports soccer exchange program, Unified soccer teams from MLS cities travel to other MLS markets to compete in exhibition matches with their Special Olympics counterparts. Unified matches are scheduled in conjunction with MLS club matches, providing MLS fans with an opportunity to witness first-hand the talents and abilities of Special Olympics athletes. Supporting the matches is ESPN, media partner to both MLS and Special Olympics International and the Global Presenting Sponsor of Special Olympics Unified Sports.
Eastern Conference All-Stars
#1 |
F |
James Day Keith |
New England Revolution |
#2 |
M |
Julia Marie Keith |
New England Revolution |
#3 |
F |
Aaron B. Elman |
Columbus Crew SC |
#4 |
M |
Emily Schultz |
Columbus Crew SC |
#5 |
D |
Ahmed Wague |
New York City FC |
#6 |
F |
Andeano Sewell |
New York City FC |
#7 |
F |
Ethan Harvey |
Chicago Fire |
#8 |
F |
Mark Jerabek |
Chicago Fire |
#9 |
F |
Peter H. Poole |
NY Red Bulls |
#10 |
M |
Jason Poole |
NY Red Bulls |
#11 |
D |
Justin Sherlock |
Philadelphia Union |
#12 |
F |
Tariq Fontroy |
Philadelphia Union |
#13 |
M |
Kevin Guzman |
D.C. United |
#14 |
M |
Dennis Mendizabal |
D.C. United |
#15 |
D |
Brandon Grove |
Toronto FC |
#16 |
D |
Brianna Cuzzolino |
Toronto FC |
#17 |
Cesar Barreto |
Orlando City SC |
|
#18 |
Daniel Huertas |
Orlando City SC |
Western Conference All-Stars
#1 |
F |
Matthew Weiser |
Houston Dynamo |
#2 |
M |
Hayden Dyson |
Houston Dynamo |
#3 |
F |
Scott Stephens |
Colorado Rapids |
#4 |
M |
Jonathan Stephens |
Colorado Rapids |
#5 |
D |
Laurence Fairchild |
FC Dallas |
#6 |
M |
Douglas Sullivan |
FC Dallas |
#7 |
F |
Tyler C. Melhorn |
Sporting Kansas City |
#8 |
D |
Walter Hayes |
Sporting Kansas City |
#9 |
F |
Malik Amir Franks |
LA Galaxy |
#10 |
F |
Rafael Lopez |
LA Galaxy |
#11 |
Raymond Morrow |
Portland Timbers |
|
#12 |
D |
Matthew McMillen |
Portland Timbers |
#13 |
M |
Boston Iacobazzi |
Real Salt Lake |
#14 |
F |
Ivan Yin |
Real Salt Lake |
#15 |
Cody Peterson |
Seattle Sounders FC |
|
#16 |
Nikole Cruz |
Seattle Sounders FC |
|
#17 |
F |
Eli Thornton |
San Jose Earthquakes |
#18 |
Joel Aguado |
San Jose Earthquakes |