MLS announces roster for 2018 Homegrown Game presented by Energizer

Major League Soccer announced on Thursday the roster for the 2018 MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer, featuring up-and-coming players from the youth national teams of the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The team, to be coached by Atlanta United Academy Director Tony Annan, includes some of the leagues most accomplished young stars and will take on Tigres UANL’s Under-20 Team in the fifth annual MLS Homegrown Game on Tuesday, July 31 at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground (8 pm ET | UDN, Twitter.com).

The event is part of the festivities around the 2018 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, which features MLS's best taking on Italian giants Juventus at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Aug. 1 (7:30 pm ET | ESPN, UniMás, TSN, TVAS).

Leading the way for the 2018 Homegrown squad are Atlanta United hometown products and U.S. youth national teamers Andrew Carleton, 18, and Lagos Kunga, 19. Other teenage talents include US U-17 national team captain Chris Durkin (D.C. United) and defenders Jaylin Lindsey (Sporting Kansas City) and James Sands (New York City FC).

Three of Kungas US 2017 U-20 World Cup teammates are also on the Homegrown squad: goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski (San Jose Earthquakes), midfielder Sebastian Saucedo (Real Salt Lake) and defender Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union), one of the league-high four HGPs representing Philly.

Representing the Canadian contingent are Canada national team goalkeeper Sean Melvin (Vancouver Whitecaps) and Canada U-20 midfielder Liam Fraser (Toronto FC).

The LA Galaxy's 16-year-old midfielder Efrain Alvarez could face some familiar faces in Tigres UANLs U-20 side, having played with Mexico’s U-15 and U-17 national teams. Tigres, the defending Liga MX U-20 champions, features a roster with players who have represented Mexico at numerous youth national team stages, as well as the reserves and the first team side that has captured the Liga MX title in three out of the previous six tournaments. The Tigres U-20 traveling roster will be named at a later date.

Tickets to the Homegrown Game start at $15 and can be purchased on Ticketmaster.com, and also include admission to the Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star Soccer Match presented by MLS WORKS and ESPN, held immediately prior.

HEAD COACH: Tony Annan, Atlanta United Academy Director