The inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Invitational kicks off this week as English Premier League 2 sides Wolverhampton Wolves and Chelsea FC travel across the pond to take on three MLS NEXT Pro clubs including Toronto FC II, Colorado Rapids 2 and tournament hosts Real Monarchs.
The tournament will consist of five matches over nine days. The team that earns the most points will be crowned the Invitational Champion. The matches will be split between Zions Bank Stadium and Rio Tinto Stadium between the dates of July 19-July 27 with the schedule as follows:
Tuesday, July 19: Real Monarchs v Chelsea U-21s – 7:30p MT – Rio Tinto Stadium
Thursday, July 21: Chelsea U-21s v Wolves U-21s – 8:15p MT – Zions Bank Stadium
Saturday, July 23: Real Monarchs v Wolves U-21s – 10:30a MT – Rio Tinto Stadium
Saturday, July 23: Toronto FC 2 v Chelsea U-21s – 8:45p MT – Zions Bank Stadium
Wednesday, July 27: Colorado Rapids 2 v Wolves U-21s – 8:00p MT – Zions Bank Stadium
The MLS NEXT Pro Invitational will serve as the first international tournament put on by the newly-formed league and will follow the MLS NEXT Pro rules, including an enhanced broadcast to be streamed on mlsnextpro.com for all matches.
English Premier League 2, like MLS NEXT Pro, is a developmental league used to promote the development of the young players within the English Premier League academies, preparing them to play in the first division. Chelsea and Wolves are two of the premier academies in English football, producing players such as John Terry, Mason Mount, Robbie Keane, and Joleon Wescott.
Real Monarchs will feature a roster that includes 12 MLS NEXT Pro contracted players, eight RSL Homegrowns, and five RSL academy products/amateurs. The Monarchs will be led by midfielder Pedro Fonseca and defender Jaziel Orozco, both of whom have worn the captain’s armband this season and have been consistent pieces in the Club’s starting XI thus far. Fonseca has been dominant in the attack this season, leading Real Monarchs with five goals and two assists, while Orozco has shored up the backline in nine matches this season after spending the first part of the season with Real Salt Lake. The defender leads this roster in first team minutes, starting in three matches and playing 315 minutes, he is closely followed by midfielder Diego Luna who has appeared in four matches, one of which was a start.
The Real Monarchs roster for the international invitational will be as follows:
Forwards (4): Chris Garcia (RSL Homegrown), Axel Kei (RSL Homegrown), Yekeson Subah (Monarchs Contract), Terron Williams (Monarchs Contract)
Midfielders (10): Julio Benitez (RSL Homegrown), Jude Wellings (RSL Homegrown), Diego Luna (RSL Homegrown), Pedro Fonseca (Monarchs Contract), Tyrone Mondi (Monarchs Contract), Christian Nydegger (Monarchs Contract), Leo Torres (Monarchs Contract), Iziah “Izzy” Amparo (RSL Academy), Abokye Bikyeombe (RSL Academy), Marcelo Mondragon (Amateur)
Defenders (8): Jaziel Orozco (RSL Homegrown), Bode Hidalgo (RSL Homegrown), Zack Farnsworth (RSL Homegrown), Bobby Pierre (Monarchs Contract), Pierre Reedy (Monarchs Contract), Golden Mafwenta (Monarchs Contract), Aziz Kayondo (Monarchs Contract) , Marcus Vasquez (RSL Academy)
Goalkeeper (2): Gavin Beavers (RSL Homegrown), Blake Kelly (RSL Academy)
