MLS
How to vote for the MLS All-Star Team captain: Acosta, Benteke, Burki, Zimmerman
Wayne Rooney’s MLS select XI will take on Premier League side Arsenal at Audi Park, Washington DC.
With less than three weeks to go until the All-Star Game, team manager Wayne Rooney will already be thinking about the task at hand.
The MLS All-Star roster has already been announced and Rooney will try to prepare his team for the visit of Arsenal, who finished second in the Premier League last season.
“It’s my job to get to know the players quickly,” Rooney told the MLS website. “They’ve all impressed me this season when I’ve played against them, or even just watching them in games.”
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But Rooney, who played both for and against the All-Stars during his stellar playing career, will not have the final say on all matters. The former England captain selected just 12 of those in his roster; another 12 were selected by a public vote.
The coveted role of MLS All-Star Team captain will also be decided by public ballot and the voting has already begun. Here’s everything you need to know about how to vote and the four candidates...
Cast your vote for the MLS All-Star captain
The hotly-anticipated 2023 All-Star Game will take place on Wednesday, 19 July in Washington, DC’s Audi Field stadium.
The vote for the roster has already ended but you can still help to decide which of the squad will wear the captain’s armband.
From Friday 30 June through Saturday 8 July fans can vote on the MLS’ All-Star Captain Fan Vote webpage.
The winning candidate will wear a custom-made armband for the game, designed by MasPaz. The Colombian-born Washington local is known for his distinctive street murals that cast a light on issues around environmentalism and indigenous peoples.
Who can be MLS All-Star Team captain?
Here are the four candidates...
Luciano Acosta, FC Cincinnati - Midfielder
Christian Benteke, DC United - Striker
Roman Burki, St Louis CITY SC - Goalkeeper
Walker Zimmerman, Nashville SC - Defender
The four candidates play in four different areas of the pitch and are drawn from four distinct teams. However one, Christian Benteke, is particularly well known to the All-Star manager.
Benteke has starred for Rooney’s DC United team this season and the manager has been full of praise for his player’s club form.
“He’s been really effective for us,” Rooney said. “He gives us a different dimension in terms of how we want to play, we can be a bit more direct.”
“He holds the ball up really well and allows players to come and play with him.”
MLS fans have until midnight on Saturday 8 July to cast their vote for All-Star Team captain.