Major League Soccer on Thursday welcomed the top collegiate, youth and international players to Florida, as more than 70 talented young stars look to impress MLS coaches and team officials at the 2018 adidas MLS Player Combine at Orlando City Stadium. The players will undergo medicals and performance testing before lining up to compete in the Combine matches.
From Generation adidas signees and NCAA National Champions to NSCAA-First Team All-Americans and a MAC Hermann Trophy winner, participants will be turning heads over three days of competition as they anxiously await their potential selection in the MLS SuperDraft 2018 presented by adidas at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 19, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.
MLS also announced the signing of University of Virginia junior Edward Opoku to the 2018 Generation adidas class. In addition, seven college seniors and one youth international have also been extended invites to the 2018 adidas MLS Player Combine, while one player signed a senior contract with MLS.
Also joining the Combine are seven college seniors in Luis Argudo (Wake Forest University), Alex Bumpus (University of Kentucky), Jose Carrera-Garcia (University of California), Diego Campos (Clemson University), Xavier Gomez (University of Nebraska Omaha), Josh Morton (University of California) and Thomas Vancaeyezeele (University of Charleston).
Jon Gallagher (University of Notre Dame) also signed a senior contract with Major League Soccer.
Rounding out the Combine invitees is Youth International signing Issaka Nyemewero.
Withdrawing from the Combine were Jake Rozhansky and Rafael Sanchez. Drew Skundrich (Stanford University) has withdrawn from the Combine due to injury but is still eligible for selection in the SuperDraft.
2018 ADIDAS MLS PLAYER COMBINE
The 2018 adidas MLS Player Combine will feature top collegiate players from across the country showcasing their talents in front of representatives from all 23 MLS clubs. All matches will be played on the game field at Orlando City Stadium, home of the Orlando City SC from Jan. 11-17.
The invited players have been divided into four teams: Team X, Team Predator, Team Tango, and Team Nemeziz, and every team will play one game on each of the three match days for a total of three games per team.
- CLICK HERE for the individual team rosters.
- CLICK HERE for the 2018 adidas MLS Player Combine Guide, including player bios, event information and schedule
All games will be free and open to the public with gates opening for both fans and media one hour before the start of the day’s first match. For fans following from afar, all six Combine matches will be streamed live on MLSsoccer.com and the MLS YouTube Channel.
2018 adidas MLS Player Combine Game Schedule
| Saturday, Jan. 13 | ||
Team Nemeziz vs. Team Predator | 11:30 a.m. CT | Watch Stream |
Team X vs. Team Tango | 1:30 p.m. CT | Watch Stream |
| Monday, Jan. 15 | ||
Team Nemeziz vs. Team X | 11:30 a.m. CT | Watch Stream |
Team Predator vs. Team Tango | 1:30 p.m. CT | Watch Stream |
| Wednesday, Jan. 17 | ||
Team X vs. Team Predator | 9 a.m. CT | Watch Stream |
Team Nemeziz vs. Team Tango | 11 a.m. CT | Watch Stream |
MLS SUPERDRAFT 2018 PRESENTED BY ADIDAS
MLS SuperDraft 2018 presented by adidas, Major League Soccer’s annual player draft, brings together top collegiate, youth, and international players as they step into the professional ranks in MLS. This year, the SuperDraft consists of four rounds, each with 23 picks. The first two rounds will take place on Friday, Jan. 19, in Philadelphia and third and fourth rounds on Jan. 21 via conference call. Sporting KC currently has two selections in the first round at No. 13 and No. 18 overall and zero picks in the second round.
MLS SuperDraft 2018 presented by adidas will be streamed live on MLSsoccer.com, the MLS YouTube channel, and the MLS Facebook page with live updates through MLS social media channels.
SELECTION ORDER
Expansion club Los Angeles Football Club holds the first overall selection in MLS SuperDraft 2018 presented by adidas. The following selections are by teams that did not qualify for the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs, beginning with the team that earned the fewest points in the 2017 regular season, unless selections have been traded. The remaining 12 picks are ranked by fewest regular season points among teams that were eliminated in the same round of the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs.
CLICK HERE for a continually updated SuperDraft order.
