Jeevan Badwal first South Asian to play in the MLS NEXT All-Star game

NEW YORK, NY – MLS NEXT announced Thursday that Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy midfielder Jeevan Badwal has been selected to the second annual MLS NEXT All-Star Game presented by Allstate. This is huge news as Badwal is the first South Asian to play in the MLS NEXT All-Star game. Badwal, who is a part of the 'Caps U-17 team, has been a key player for both club and country this season. 

In addition to playing in MLS NEXT, the 17-year-old midfielder has also made his pro debut with Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) in MLS NEXT Pro with two appearances so far. At the international level, the resident of Surrey, BC started every match for Canada's U-17 men's national team at the Concacaf U-17 Championship, helping his country qualify for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup this November.

"We are very proud of Jeevan on earning this selection to the MLS NEXT All-Star Game," said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director. "As soccer is a team sport, his selection is also a reward to his teammates and coaches that have all worked the entire year together to continue developing their game. Since joining our academy in 2019, Jeevan has made amazing steps and this nomination is a reflection of his efforts. We're looking forward to cheering him on and helping him continue to progress in his career."

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 game will provide a world-class experience for North America’s rising stars to showcase their talents in an East vs. West format at the Naval Academy’s Glenn Warner Soccer Facility in Annapolis, Maryland on Wednesday, July 19 at 7:30 a.m. PT.