Five Texas Players Selected for MLS Next All-Star Game

<p>The 2025 MLS Next season ended ten days ago, when the MLS Next Cup Playoffs were concluded in Nashville, Tennessee, and the best teams from all over the country played for the title.</p>   <p>But for 44 players from around the US and Canada, the season is not quite done yet, as they were selected to compete in the MLS Next All-Star Game, on July 21.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DLnBGHCRZDg/?img_index=2 </div></figure>   <p>This year, the festive game will be held in Texas, with [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']'s Parmer Field, hosting the event. Five players from Texas clubs made the selection and will be on the field representing the West All-Stars:</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Aristizabal split his time between [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']'s U19 team in the MLS Next League and the club's II team in the MLS Next Pro. A Puerto Rican youth international, he's a goalkeeper of solid technical foundations, which allow him to get the job done with tremendous efficiency between the posts. Explosive to get to shots fired well outside of his body range, Aristizabal also stands out for his mental skills, which not only help him make the right choice every time he goes for the ball, but also to play consistently even when under pressure. The goalkeeper also has great command of the penalty box, handling crosses very effectively, and is intelligent and accurate with his distribution, connecting good passes out of the back.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DIcpyzHsYiB/ </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Kaakoush played eight matches with North Texas SC in the MLS Next Pro League, but strengthened [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas']' U19 team in the MLS Next Fest, the GA Cup and the MLS Next Flex tournaments. A technically gifted defensive player, he can play in central defense or midfield and efficiently uses his ability to read the game to make stops and disrupt attempts from opponents. Kaakoush doesn't shy away from physical duels and comes out on top in most of them, playing with great firmness. A US U17 international, he makes a huge impact in possession, be it initiating his team's buildup with excellent distribution out of the backline or playing direct, line-breaking passes from midfield. </p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2CxCRn18as </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Barrett played some matches for the [program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] U19 team in the MLS Next League, but he spent most of the season with the club's Dos team in the MLS Next Pro, where he registered 13 matches (12 starts). A US U16 national team defender with excellent physical tools and great instincts, he does an excellent job of keeping opponents under pressure when they get into his zone and is very difficult to get by in 1v1 situations. Extremely mobile, Barrett also thrives when he has to defend out wide, which allows him to play as a right back, and is very efficient at recovering when a long pass is sent behind his back. He's also very clean and reliable in possession, being capable of connecting good passes out of the back and of driving the ball forward himself.</p>      <p class="text-gray-700">Ayala was a key piece in the [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'] U16 team in the MLS Next League, serving as the team's captain and producing 12 goals and six assists from his central midfielder position. Very technical and intelligent, he gets involved in most of the team's offensive actions and is excellent at finding ways to progress the ball on the field, while keeping a high work rate on both sides of the ball during the entire match. Ayala likes to get the ball in more central areas and use his ability to dribble in tight spaces and his vision to start plays, but he's also very dangerous when placed out wide on the left and attacking defenders in 1v1 duels. The midfielder is also very accurate in set pieces.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/03/2J4A0140.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-283917" /></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Cook is the offensive linchpin in the [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'] U16 team in the MLS Next League and made his debut with North Texas SC in the MLS Next Pro League one year ago, becoming the youngest player to do it at the age of 14. Playing as the team's No. 10, he's their main chance creator, but also delivers goals at a good rate, displaying excellent finishing skills. Cook's quality on the ball is, at times, truly unbelievable, as he gets to manipulate it in tight spaces with incredible precision and intelligence. The midfielder also has excellent vision and is extremely accurate with his set piece deliveries, racking up a very high number of assists every season. He's a constant presence with US Soccer youth teams and was called up for a training camp with the U16 team last April.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DKm15OPOap9/ </div></figure>

The 2025 MLS Next season ended ten days ago, when the MLS Next Cup Playoffs were concluded in Nashville, Tennessee, and the best teams from all over the country played for the title.