MLS NEXT today announced rosters for the fifth annual MLS NEXT All-Star Game presented by Allstate. FC Cincinnati Academy goalkeeper Connor Dale and defender Dom Lester were selected to the East Roster for the East vs. West style match taking place on Monday, July 27 at Mecklenburg County Sportsplex in Matthews, North Carolina. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
The MLS NEXT All-Star Game will stream live on MLS’ YouTube channel and on MLSsoccer.com.
The MLS NEXT All-Star Game will feature 44 of the best young players from across the country and will showcase the future soccer stars of North America. Players selected have competed in either MLS NEXT regular season play or in at least one of MLS NEXT’s premier events – MLS NEXT Fest, MLS NEXT Flex, Generation adidas Cup or MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs – in 2025/26.
Dale and Lester continue the FC Cincinnati Academy’s representation in the MLS NEXT All-Star Game as they become the eighth and ninth players to be selected to the MLS NEXT All-Star Roster since 2022. The FC Cincinnati Academy have had at least one player selected to the MLS NEXT All-Star Roster in each year of the competition.
For more information on the MLS NEXT All-Star game and the league’s full release, visit mlssoccer.com/mlsnext.
FC Cincinnati Academy Players Selected to the MLS NEXT All-Star Game
Connor Dale (2026)
Dom Lester (2026)
Ademar Chávez (2025)
Andrei Chirila (2025)
Stefan Chirila (2024)
Will Kuisel (2024)
Stiven Jimenez (2023)
Ryder Mills (2023)
David Garcia (2022)
Dale and Lester enjoyed successful academy seasons which included highlights across the Generation adidas Cup, MLS NEXT Flex and MLS NEXT Cup. Dale started in five matches for the U16s at the Generation adidas Cup in March, finishing with four clean sheets, and started three matches for the U18s at MLS NEXT Cup where the side advanced to the Quarterfinals. Dale made his MLS NEXT Pro debut with FC Cincinnati 2 on June 7 against New England Revolution II and has started the team’s last three matches.
Lester featured alongside Dale at Generation adidas Cup for the U16s and scored in the team’s 3-0 Round of 16 win against South Korean side Busan IPakr. Lester traveled with the U18s to MLS NEXT Cup, appearing in all three matches while starting in two.
