The 2016 MLS All-Star Game, which pits the best in Major League Soccer against English Premier League club Arsenal FC, goes tonight at San Jose’s Avaya Stadium (4:30 p.m. PT on TSN2).
Here’s everything you need to know about the match.
REPPIN’ THE CAPS
Representing Vancouver Whitecaps FC at this year’s All-Star Game is Kendall Waston.
The Costa Rican centre back, who has a pair of goals on the season, was selected by San Jose Earthquakes head coach Dominic Kinnear, who will serve as this year's MLS All-Star coach, taking into consideration the All-Star Fan XI and player voting.
“For me, to be on the All-Star team is a blessing,” Waston told whitecapsfc.com. “It’s an honour to represent my club in this big game. It means a lot to me. To be honest, I didn’t expect it but I’m obviously not going to say no. I’m really, really happy to be there.”
Waston becomes the fourth Whitecaps FC player to represent the club in the annual summer showcase after Jay DeMerit (2012), Camilo (2013), and current goalkeeper David Ousted (2015), one of four players named to the inactive roster for this year's MLS All-Star Game.
MLS ALL-STAR THREEPEAT?
Last year, Ousted helped the MLS All-Stars defeat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1. The previous year, the all-stars defeated Bayern Munich by the same scoreline.
Can they make it a threepeat tonight in San Jose?
2016 MLS ALL-STAR GAME ROSTERS
MLS ALL-STARS
Goalkeepers (2): David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union)
Defenders (8): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Laurent Ciman (Montreal Impact), Andrew Farrell (New England Revolution), Keegan Rosenberry (Philadelphia Union), Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy), Brandon Vincent (Chicago Fire), Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Midfielders (9): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Mauro Diaz (FC Dallas), Giovani dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), Kaká (Orlando City), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Andrea Pirlo (New York City FC), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC)
Forwards (7): Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Didier Drogba (Montreal Impact), Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC), Cyle Larin (Orlando City), Ignacio Piatti (Montreal Impact), David Villa (New York City FC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Arsenal FC:
Goalkeepers (3): Petr Cech, Emiliano Martinez, David Ospina
Defenders (7): Hector Bellerin, Krystian Bielik, Calum Chambers, Mathieu Debuchy, Kieran Gibbs, Rob Holding, Nacho Monreal
Midfielders (9): Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin, Mohamed Elneny, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Chris Willock, Jack Wilshere, Granit Xhaka, Gedion Zelalem
Forwards (4): Chuba Akpom, Joel Campbell, Alex Iwobi, Theo Walcott
Arsenal’s roster includes heavy hitters like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and David Ospina as well as the likes of Petr Cech, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, and Joel Campbell, an international teammate of Waston’s with Costa Rica. There are, however, some omissions. The players who went on lengthy runs at the Euros, including Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud, and Laurent Koscielny, did not make the trip – neither did the injured Per Mertesacker and Alexis Sanchez.
Be a part of the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver! Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket, and single match tickets. For more information, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
