SEATTLE, WASH. – MLS NEXT today announced its roster for the 2023 MLS NEXT All-Star Game presented by Allstate, with Tacoma Defiance defender Stuart Hawkins and Sounders FC Academy goalkeeper Mohammed Shour named to the West team. Hawkins is named to his second consecutive MLS NEXT All-Star roster, while Shour earns his first nod to the event. The match is being played on Wednesday, July 19 at the Naval Academy’s Glenn Warner Soccer Facility in Annapolis, Maryland (7:30 a.m. PT / TikTok).
MEDIA NOTE: Hawkins and Shour were informed of their selections today with a surprise announcement from the members of Sounders FC Academy and Tacoma Defiance coaching staffs, with the news being delivered by U-17 Head Coach Xavi Bravo
The 44 players 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 MLS NEXT premier event this season (MLS NEXT Fest, MLS NEXT Flex, Generation adidas Cup, MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase).
The two teams are competing in an East vs. West format at the Naval Academy’s Glenn Warner Soccer Facility in Annapolis on the same day of MLS All-Star Game takes place at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. All 29 MLS academies have at least one player selected, with Sounders FC being one of nine clubs with multiple selections. Five non-MLS academies are also be represented in Annapolis: BW Gottschee, FC DELCO, Real Colorado, Strikers FC, Total Futbol Academy.
MLS NEXT personnel also advised on the selection of the coaching staff for both East and West teams. The East team is being coached D.C. United Academy Director Patrick Ouckama, while the West squad is being led by former U.S. Men’s National Team defender and current St. Louis CITY SC U-15 Head Coach Anthony Wallace.
The match is being streamed live from MLS NEXT’s (@mlsnext) TikTok account with multiple access points in the app.
SOUNDERS FC 2023 MLS NEXT ALL-STAR SELECTIONS
DEFENDER STUART HAWKINS
Hawkins, 16, joined the Sounders Discovery Program at age 12, progressing through the Academy and most recently signing with Tacoma Defiance in June of 2022. He has appeared in 11 matches (nine starts) for Tacoma Defiance this season, scoring his first career MLS NEXT Pro goal against Colorado Rapids 2 on June 18. At the Academy level, the defender started all seven of his appearances for the U-17s during the 2022-2023 season. Previously, the Fox Island native was named Most Valuable Player of the 2022 U-17 Generation Adidas Cup, helping lead Sounders FC Academy to its second consecutive title at the time.
GOALKEEPER MOHAMMED SHOUR
Shour, 15, joined Sounders FC Academy in January of 2019. He started all 13 of his appearances for the U-17s this year, in addition to appearing on the bench for Tacoma Defiance on June 5 against Real Monarchs. The goalkeeper was on the roster for Sounders FC’s 2023 Generation Adidas Cup run in April of this year, starting all four of his appearances. Shour was also called into a U-16 United States Men’s Youth National Team camp in November of 2022.
