PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers have been selected as one of three MLS host clubs for the landmark 10th edition of Sueño MLS – Presented by Allstate Insurance Company, it was announced today. Sueño MLS is the premier nationally-televised search for the best undiscovered soccer talent in North America, and it makes its way to the Rose City for the first time in 2016.
Sueño MLS will take place in Portland the weekend of April 16-17. Online registration is now open, once again giving aspiring young soccer players the chance to turn dreams into a reality. To register, click here.
Up to 400 tryout spots will be made available in each city on a first come, first serve basis. In past years, spots have filled up in only a few hours following the start of registration. A waiting list will be available once all spots have been filled.
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 forward, Luis “El Matador” Hernández. 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 2016 winner will be crowned Sunday, May 22, live in-studio on República Deportiva.
In addition, the Allstate “Good Hands®” top goalkeeper award, El Portero Allstate, will be presented for the sixth 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; finalists will be mentored by Mexican goalkeeping legend Adolfo Ríos.
The entire 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), airing every Sunday at 12 noon and 9 p.m. Pacific.
The Timbers join the LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls as host clubs, helping Sueño MLS celebrate its 10th year.
Since its inception in 2007, Sueño MLS has given more than 15,000 talented young athletes an opportunity to showcase their skills and impress scouts. The program has helped discover several standouts, including original Sueño MLS winner and 2015 MLS Cup Champion Jorge Villafaña (formerly Jorge Flores) currently with Club Santos Laguna, C.F. Monterrey forward Gabriel Funes Mori, and his brother, Everton FC defender Ramiro Funes Mori. Many others have gone on to play for MLS academy teams, universities, youth national teams and professionally around the world.
