NEW YORK (March 22, 2015) –Sueño MLS 2015 – Presented by Allstate Insurance Company, the premier nationally-televised search for the best undiscovered soccer talent in North America, today opened online registration, once again giving thousands of aspiring young soccer players across the country the chance to turn their dreams into a reality.
Hopefuls are now able to register at www.SuenoMLS.com for an opportunity to participate in one of the three open tryouts across the United States. The competition will be chronicled in a unique “reality show within a show” format by Univision Deportes’ popular weekly sports entertainment program, República Deportiva (Sports Republic). Co-hosted by popular sportscasters Félix Fernández, Lindsay Casinelli, Adriana Monsalve and Edgar Martinez, República Deportiva airs every Sunday.
In each 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 trip to the exciting five-day National Final in Carson, Calif. that will be hosted by Sueño MLS Ambassador and legendary Mexican defender, Pavel Pardo. The finals will include training sessions, scrimmages, guest celebrity scouts and an opportunity to meet some of the League’s biggest stars. The Sueño MLS 2015 – Presented by Allstate Insurance Company winner will be crowned on Sunday, June 7, live in-studio on República Deportiva (see calendar below for more information).
In addition, the Allstate “Good Hands®” top goalkeeper award, El Portero Allstate, will be presented for the fifth consecutive year. One goalkeeper at each of the three local tryouts will be selected as a local goalkeeper finalist and will compete in the National Finals for the opportunity to be named El Portero Allstate. El Portero Allstate finalists will be mentored by Mexican goalkeeping legend Martin “El Pulpo” Zuñiga. The winner will be announced live on República Deportiva at the end of the National Finals week.
In addition to the title, both the Sueño MLS 2015 – Presented by Allstate Insurance Company and El Portero Allstate winners will be invited to join a youth-level team at the MLS club represented at the National Finals.
“Allstate is proud to protect the future of soccer and keep aspiring young players in good hands by once again sponsoring this year’s Sueño MLS program,” said Pam Hollander, vice president of marketing for Allstate Insurance Company. “We have a long history of supporting soccer and we are excited to help young players achieve their dreams through this important partnership.”
Since its inception in 2007, Sueño MLS has given more than 13,000 talented young athletes an opportunity to showcase their skills and impress scouts. The program has helped discover several standouts, including the 2007 original winner Jorge Villafaña (formerly Jorge Flores), a nine-year MLS veteran who now starts for the Portland Timbers, and 2008 winner Gabriel Funes Mori, who plays for Portugal’s SL Benfica and is currently on loan in Turkey. Many others have gone on to play for MLS academy teams, youth national teams and professionally around the world.
MLS partners participating in Sueño MLS 2015 – Presented by Allstate Insurance Company include adidas, Johnson & Johnson, Makita and Wells Fargo.
Photos, b-roll and logo from Sueño MLS 2015 – Presented by Allstate Insurance Company are available for download at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hij85uqmi1k4dd8/AACLkawaa8ZG59j2DeMlHJ--a?dl=0
2015 TIMELINE
March 22 Live announcement on Univision Deportes’ República Deportiva
May 2-3 Local market tryouts in the Orlando area, hosted by Orlando City SC
May 9-10 Local market tryouts in the Los Angeles area, hosted by LA Galaxy
May 16-17 Local market tryouts in the Chicago area, hosted by Chicago Fire
May 26-31 National Finals at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.
June 7 Live announcement of winner on República Deportiva
PARTICIPANT ELIGIBILITY:
Eligible players must be males between the ages of 14 and 18 years old (born between January 1, 1997 – April 18, 2001) with appropriate identification and have retained their amateur status. Current collegiate student-athletes will not be permitted to attend the National Finals in Carson, Calif. 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 National Finals in Carson, Calif. For more information, please visit www.SuenoMLS.com. Participation in the event is free. Players may not register for more than one city.
SUEÑO MLS ALL-TIME WINNERS:
Year Name Hometown Position Host Team
2014 Johnny Chavarría Las Vegas, Nev. Defender LA Galaxy
2013 Alexander Soto Elizabeth, N.J. Forward D.C. United
2012 Armando Flores Anaheim, Calif. Forward Chivas USA
2011 Birnis Adames Camden, N.J. Forward Philadelphia Union
2010 Nelson Castro Houston, Texas Defender Houston Dynamo
2009 Alberto Lopez Aurora, Ill. Midfielder Chicago Fire
2008* Gabriel Funes Mori Arlington, Texas Forward FC Dallas
2008* Briant Reyes Downey, Calif. Midfielder Chivas USA
2007 Jorge [Flores] Villafaña Anaheim, Calif. Forward Chivas USA
*Co-winners in 2008
Allstate “Good Hands®” top goalkeeper award - El Portero Allstate ALL-TIME WINNERS:
Year Name Hometown Host Team
2014 Steven Manuel Ortiz Linden, N.J. New York Red Bulls
2013 Luis Aranzazu Pembroke Pines, Fla. D.C. United
2012 Jimmy Camacho Riverside, Calif. Chivas USA
2011 Anthony Hall Dallas, Texas FC Dallas