MLS WORKS and ESPN announced the full rosters for the 2018 Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star soccer match at halftime of ESPN’s broadcast of Major League Soccer’s regular season matchup between Orlando City SC and NYCFC on Thursday night. The All-Star Soccer Match will take place on Tuesday, July 31 at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, home of Atlanta United, at 6 p.m. ET, one day before the 2018 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target.
For the fifth year in a row, MLS WORKS and ESPN will host 42 delegates as part of the Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star Experience. The Unified Sports All-Star soccer teams are comprised of players with and without intellectual disabilities and will play an 11 vs 11 match consisting of two 30-minute halves, outfitted in authentic uniforms provided by adidas. The teams will take the pitch in an East vs. West matchup prior to the fifth annual MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer®.
Tickets for both matches are available now by CLICKING HERE. Gates will open to the public at 5 p.m. ET. The Unified Sports match will be streamed live via MLS YouTube and ESPN3, accessible on the ESPN App and ESPN.com.
Player rosters for each conference can be found by CLICKING HERE. Representing the Dynamo Unified Team presented by 76® will be Anthony Hernandez and Laura Armas.
MLSsoccer.com talent Bobby Warshaw and David Gass will serve as the match announcers, providing color commentary and interviews with players and coaches throughout the match. Atlanta United players will serve as celebrity coaches for both teams and present the Unified athletes with medals following the match.
The match will showcase the Special Olympics Unified Sports Soccer Exchange program, the cornerstone of the ongoing collaboration between MLS, ESPN, and Special Olympics North America. Through the Unified Sports Soccer Exchange program, Unified teams from MLS cities travel to other MLS markets to compete in exhibition matches with their Special Olympics counterparts. Unified matches are scheduled in conjunction with MLS club matches, providing MLS fans with an opportunity to witness first-hand the talents and abilities of Special Olympics athletes. Supporting the matches is ESPN, media partner to both MLS and Special Olympics International and the Global Presenting Sponsor of Special Olympics Unified Sports.
