CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati Academy defender David Garcia has been named to the inaugural MLS NEXT All-Star Team, the league announced today. Garcia will join 45 other academy standouts in Blaine, Minnesota on August 10, showcasing the best young talent in North America on the national stage.
Garcia joined the FC Cincinnati academy in 2021 and has played an important role in FC Cincinnati 2’s first season in MLS NEXT Pro. “It feels amazing to be recognized as an all-star,” said Garcia. “It’s great. MLS NEXT, with all of these great players, it’s good for us to have someone in there, and I’m proud to represent FC Cincinnati.”
Garcia has appeared in thirteen matches for FCC 2 this season, making eleven starts and playing 994 minutes. He’s tallied 33 successful duels and 22 interceptions on the year and played 90 minutes in each of Cincinnati’s shutout wins.
The 45 players were chosen by the MLS NEXT Player Selection Committee, which is made up of key MLS Player Development department personnel, following the conclusion of the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase. Players must have been U-18 (born in 2004 or earlier) and have competed in one of the MLS NEXT national showcase events this season, including MLS NEXT Fest, MLS NEXT Flex, Generation adidas Cup, and MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase.
The match will be streamed live, and further tune-in details will be available at a later date. For the full MLS Next release, and rosters, visit mlssoccer.com/mlsnext.
About MLS NEXT
MLS NEXT is a new paradigm for player development, launched in 2020 to transform youth soccer in North America. Founded on a collaborative approach to governance and a commitment to innovation, MLS NEXT players have access to the highest level of competition, training and personal development opportunities that will prepare them for their futures, both in soccer and in life. Membership for the 2021-22 season includes 133 clubs, 598 teams and over 12,000 players across the U.S. and Canada. Official partners of MLS NEXT include adidas, Allstate, DoorDash, and the University of South Carolina.
