FRISCO, Texas – FC Dallas midfielder Paxton Pomykal and defender Matt Hedges have been selected for the 2019 MLS All-Star game, Major League Soccer announced.
Pomykal was selected as one of the 2019 All-Star Commissioner’s Pick and Hedges was selected by All-Star head coach James O’Connor of Orlando City SC to represent MLS. Pomykal and Hedges will join the MLS All-Stars to face 10-time La Liga champions Atlético de Madrid in the 2019 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on Wednesday, July 31 (7 PM CT, FS1/UniMás /TSN /TVA Sports).
Pomykal has 10 appearances this season, recording two goals and two assists. Pomykal captained the United States in his four starts at the Under-20 World Cup in Poland where he helped lead the team to the quarterfinals. This will be Pomykal’s first MLS All-Star Game selection and has been previously selected twice for the MLS Homegrown Game (2017, 2018). Pomykal will be the youngest selection for FC Dallas in the MLS All-Star game. The club’s last Homegrown MLS All-Star selection was Kellyn Acosta (2016, 2017).
Nearly halfway through his eighth season with FC Dallas, Hedges has played and started in 16 matches this season and been a crucial piece of the back line. He was named the youngest captain in FC Dallas history in 2014 and was named to the MLS Best XI in 2015 and 2016. The 2016 MLS Defender of the Year earns his third straight MLS All-Star selection as a coach’s pick. Hedges came on as a second-half substitute during the 2017 match against Real Madrid in Chicago and the 2018 match against Juventus in Atlanta.
The complete 2019 MLS All-Star gameday roster includes 10 players selected by the fans from a ballot created by the media, one player selected through EA SPORTS™ “More Than a Vote” Challenge, two Commissioner’s Picks and 13 players selected by All-Star Head Coach James O’Connor of Orlando City SC. These players will be among the best in the MLS chosen to face one of the most decorated clubs in the world, Atlético de Madrid.
The MLS All-Stars will face a tough opponent in Atlético de Madrid. The club’s 10 La Liga championships rank among the top three in Spain. With 30 trophies won across all competitions, the 2018 Europa League champions finished the 2018-2019 season second in La Liga standings. The match will be televised in more than 170 countries around the world.
Tickets to the 2019 MLS All-Star Game are now on sale at Ticketmaster.com.
