FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (June 29, 2023) – MLS NEXT has announced the selection of forward Olger Escobar (2006 – Malden, Mass) to represent the New England Revolution Academy at the league’s second annual MLS NEXT All-Star Game presented by Allstate on Wednesday, July 19 at 10:30 a.m. ET at the Naval Academy’s Glenn Warner Soccer Facility in Annapolis, Maryland.
Escobar, 16, has excelled in the Revolution Academy since joining the club’s pro player pathway in 2018. The Malden, Mass. native tallied 15 goals for the U-17s during the 2022-23 regular season and then played up with the U-19 squad for the MLS NEXT Cup Semifinal and Final, helping New England claim their second consecutive national title on June 23. The forward owns three appearances with Revolution II since making his professional debut on April 21 vs. New York Red Bulls II. Escobar has earned four call-ups to the Guatemala Youth National Team, most recently in January for Concacaf World Cup qualifying matches, where he recorded a hat trick in Guatemala’s 8-3 win over Curaçao.
“We are incredibly proud to have Olger represent the New England Revolution at the MLS NEXT All-Star Game,” Technical Director Curt Onalfo said. “Olger has a ton of potential and has worked tremendously hard all season. He is very deserving of this recognition and we are excited to help him continue his development here with his hometown club.”
MLS NEXT and Allstate will provide the selected players with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity during MLS All-Star Week, which will include a full slate of evening programming events and activities in advance of the match. The players will be fully integrated into MLS All-Star Week festivities, which include team training, the All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G on July 18 and the MLS All-Star Game on July 19. Each MLS NEXT All-Star team will also conduct their own training sessions leading up to their match on Wednesday morning.
The 44 players, the best in youth soccer across the U.S. and Canada, were selected by MLS NEXT personnel following the conclusion of the 2023 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase. To be eligible for selection, players must have been born between 2005-2007, 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.
“The MLS NEXT All-Star Game has proven to be the premier showcase for the top youth soccer players in North America,” said MLS NEXT General Manager Justin Bokmeyer. “Each of these talented athletes have earned this opportunity through their tremendous performances this season and we are excited for them to experience a memorable week in Washington, D.C.”
The match will be streamed live from MLS NEXT’s (@mlsnext) TikTok account with multiple access points in the app. Admission to the MLS NEXT All-Star Game presented by Allstate at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility is free of cost. Fans are highly encouraged to park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and ride the free shuttle bus to and from the game due to security restrictions. Pedestrians can enter through the Naval Academy Visitors Center where they must go through security and present a valid U.S. ID.
Among the players who were selected to the inaugural game in 2022, 24 of those have gone on to sign professional contracts, including nine as Homegrown players. Notable standout players who have made an impact in MLS include New England’s Esmir Bajraktarevic and Jack Panayotou, along with Inter Miami CF’s Benjamin Cremaschi. Orlando City SC’s Favian Loyola, who was named the Player of the Game last year, has been a key performer in MLS NEXT Pro, scoring seven goals over the past two seasons.
