2023 MLS College Showcase in Phoenix, AZ
The fourth MLS College Showcase is scheduled to take place in Phoenix, Arizona, from December 6-9. This is during the time the MLS NEXT Fest event takes place.
This event offers a platform for 44 of the most talented college soccer players to demonstrate their abilities in front of technical staff from every Major League Soccer (MLS) club. With the upcoming MLS SuperDraft 2024 taking place on December 19th, the College Showcase helps MLS clubs identify prospective draftees.
Participants in the 2023 MLS College Showcase include college players from freshmen to graduate students. Throughout the four-day event, they will engage in training sessions, tests, interviews, and match play, while MLS club staff closely observe and evaluate their performance.
Due to the nature of the event, only MLS club technical staff are permitted to attend.
In a significant change to the SuperDraft, this year’s showcase will feature collegiate sophomores and juniors as eligible prospects for the first time in the draft’s history. This expansion allows a wider array of promising young talents to potentially start their professional careers in MLS.
The importance of college soccer in cultivating both domestic and international prospects who’ve made significant contributions to the league is undeniable. How did it fair last year? Twelve players from the 2022 MLS College Showcase secured spots on MLS rosters, proving that the event is highly beneficial in propelling players to the next level of their careers.
One such success story is defender MoĆÆse Bombito, who was drafted by the Colorado Rapids as the No. 3 overall selection in the MLS SuperDraft 2023. Bombito used the 2022 MLS College Showcase to effectively demonstrate his defensive qualities, eventually signing a Generation Adidas contract. Despite a setback from an early-season injury, Bombito has played in 11 matches for the Rapids, earning a debut call-up to the Canadian Men’s National Team for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Kudos to Moise who we watched during his time at the University of New Hampshire (UNH).
The roster of participants invited to the 2023 MLS College Showcase will be released later this week, though changes to the invitees may occur prior to the event.
