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Three LA Galaxy Academy Players Named to Third Annual MLS NEXT All-Star Game, Presented by Allstate

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LOS ANGELES (Monday, July 1, 2024) – MLS NEXT today announced that LA Galaxy Academy defender Jose ‘Pepe’ Magana, goalkeeper Owen Pratt and midfielder Mateo Tsakiris were each named to the third annual MLS NEXT All-Star Game presented by Allstate. The game will showcase North America’s top young players in an East vs. West matchup at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday, July 23 at 8:30 a.m. PT and stream live on www.mlssoccer.com. Admission to the game is free, as fans in Columbus can watch the future stars of MLS take center stage during MLS All-Star week.

LA Galaxy U-17 Head Coach Shaun Tsakiris, who recently became the first coach to win the U-17 age group of MLS NEXT Cup twice (2023 and 2024), will coach the West team for the MLS NEXT All-Star Game. Notably, the Galaxy’s three selections are tied for the most by a club in MLS NEXT All-Star Game history (3 teams had 3 selections in 2022).

The LA Galaxy Academy U-17s defeated Charlotte FC U-17s 4-1 in the final of the 2024 U-17 MLS NEXT Cup to become champions of the tournament for a second consecutive season at GEODIS Park on June 23. Following the 2024 MLS NEXT Cup win, Magana, who scored the game-winning goal in the final against Charlotte FC, was named the MLS NEXT Cup MVP presented by adidas. Additionally, Pratt was named the MLS NEXT Cup Best Goalkeeper presented by Allstate.

MLS NEXT and Allstate will provide the players with unique opportunities during MLS All-Star Week, which will include a full slate of programming events and activities in advance of the match. The players will be fully immersed in MLS All-Star Week festivities, which include team training, the All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T on July 23, and the MLS All-Star Game on July 24. Each MLS NEXT All-Star team will also conduct their own training sessions leading up to their match on Tuesday morning.

The 44 players were selected following the conclusion of the 2024 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase. To be eligible for selection, players must have been born between 2007-2009, have competed in the MLS NEXT regular season, and played in at least one of the MLS NEXT premier events this season – MLS NEXT Fest, MLS NEXT Flex, Generation adidas Cup, or the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase.