What is up, Atlanta soccer family!
While the world’s biggest superstars are trading blows down at Atlanta Stadium for the World Cup, our hometown developmental powerhouse is quietly reminding the rest of North America that the local pipeline remains absolutely elite.
MLS NEXT just dropped the official rosters for the 2026 MLS NEXT All-Star Game presented by Allstate, and to absolutely nobody’s surprise, our beloved Five Stripes are heavily represented. U-16 Academy defender Oluwaseyitan “Seyi” Fakiyesi and midfield engine David Ilevbare have officially punched their tickets to the midsummer showcase!
This marks the fourth time in the five-year history of the event that Atlanta United has sent multiple academy players to the All-Star game. Let’s dive into why these two absolute ballers earned their spot on the East roster.
Meet Our All-Stars: Built in the A
Both Fakiyesi and Ilevbare have been an absolute joy to watch this past season, anchoring an incredibly dominant U-16 side that marched all the way to the MLS NEXT Cup final. They aren’t just dominant at the academy level; they are already making historic waves on the professional pathway.
Seyi Fakiyesi (Defender)
Fakiyesi is a lockdown left-back who has already caught the attention of U.S. Soccer scouts as a U-16 youth international. If you watched the MLS NEXT Cup playoffs, you won’t forget his clinical free-kick goal in the championship match—a moment that safely secured his spot in the Homegrown Division Best XI.
But his biggest milestone came back on March 1, when he started at left-back against New England Revolution II, officially becoming the youngest-ever player to start a match for Atlanta United 2.
David Ilevbare (Midfielder)
Every elite team needs an elite engine, and that is exactly what Ilevbare provides. Also a U-16 U.S. youth international, Ilevbare started every single match of the grueling MLS NEXT Cup tournament alongside Seyi.
He made his professional debut for Atlanta United 2 on the exact same afternoon as Fakiyesi, coming on as a second-half substitute to cement his place as the fourth-youngest player to ever feature for the reserve squad.
“We all share Seyi and David’s excitement in achieving this incredible honor,” Atlanta United Director of Methodology Javier Pérez said. “Both players were standout individuals for our U-16 side this season and are tremendous representatives of the Atlanta United pathway.”
When and Where to Watch the Stars of Tomorrow
The All-Star showcase is designed to give the top 44 young prospects in North America an elite platform during MLS All-Star Week. Fakiyesi and Ilevbare will suit up for the East squad in an intense East vs. West format.
- Date: Monday, July 27, 2026
- Kickoff Time: 7:30 PM ET
- Venue: Mecklenburg County Sportsplex (Matthews, North Carolina)
- How to Stream: Live on the official MLS YouTube channel and MLSsoccer.com
If you happen to be making the quick road trip up I-85 to support the boys in person, admission to the match is completely free to the public, though fans do need to register for tickets online ahead of time.
The future in Atlanta is blindingly bright, and we cannot wait to see Seyi and David repping the 17s on the national stage next month!
Related Content from AtlantaSoccer.news:
- Lock It In: Atlanta’s Official 2026 World Cup Group Stage Schedule and Fan Guide
- The Mercedes-Benz Stadium World Cup Survival Guide: Gates, Transit, and Fan Safety Protocols
- Tactical Reset: How Local Georgia Academy Talent is Shaping the Future of the First Team Pipeline
Join the Discussion!
Alright, ASN community, how hyped are you for Seyi and David? Our academy consistently breeds top-tier talent, but who do you think is the next homegrown player destined to break into the first-team roster? Drop your scouting reports, congratulations, and predictions for the All-Star game in the comments below!
With youth soccer elite hitting the national stage and the senior brackets heating up across the continent, there has never been a more thrilling time to test your football IQ! Think you can accurately forecast how these high-stakes matches will settle? Don’t leave your expert scorelines trapped in the group chats! Cruise on over to https://predict.atlantasoccer.news/ right now to lock in your official predictions for our city-wide predictor pool. Go head-to-head with Georgia’s sharpest supporters, monitor the live leaderboards, and secure ultimate bragging rights!
Author: Quique Lopez
Quique Lopez doesn’t just cover soccer—he deconstructs it with the precision of a veteran and the wit of a storyteller. A former player who sees the pitch as both a tactical chessboard and a cultural stage, Quique balances sharp critiques with a genuine love for the game’s soul. He’s as quick to call out the ego of a superstar as he is to find the hidden beauty in a local derby.