PORTLAND, Ore. – Major League Soccer today announced that Portland Timbers defender Marco Farfan has been named to the 18-man roster for the 2017 MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer®, as part of a week of festivities surrounding the MLS All-Star Game presented by Target. Featuring 18 of the league’s most accomplished young players, the MLS Homegrown Team will face the Chivas de Guadalajara Under-20 Team, the defending Liga MX U-20 champions, in the fourth-annual MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer® on Tuesday, Aug. 1, at 5 p.m. (Pacific) at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.
The first Timbers Academy player to sign as a Homegrown Player with the club and the youngest MLS player signing for the Timbers, Farfan, 18, has made seven appearances (6 starts) across all competitions for the Timbers in 2017, while also recording two assists in five appearances (5 starts) with T2 this season. At the international level, Farfan has earned two caps (2 starts) for the U-19 U.S. Men’s National Team in 2017.
The MLS Homegrown Game provides an annual platform to showcase MLS’ burgeoning young talent and demonstrate the growth of the league’s youth development system. MLS academies continue to attract and cultivate top-flight prospects and have now produced over 170 Homegrown Players who have signed professional contracts with MLS clubs.
MLS Homegrown Players aged 22 or under were available for selection for the 2017 MLS Homegrown Game.
As part of a week of festivities surrounding the MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, Toyota Park will host a full day of events on Aug. 1, beginning with the adidas ESP game. In addition, MLS WORKS and ESPN will be hosting the Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star soccer match immediately prior to the MLS Homegrown Game.
