James Sands Selected for MLS Homegrown Game

Fresh off the heels of scoring the game winning penalty kick to clinch the U19s Development Academy National Championship, there is yet more good news coming James Sands’ way. New York City FC announced today, via a press release on their website, that James Sands will be representing the club in the MLS Homegrown Game on July 31.

The MLS Homegrown team will be coached by Atlanta United Academy Director Tony Annan, and will take on the Tigres UANL’s U-20’s at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground. The game will be held on July 31 at 8pm and will be available to watch on UDN and Twitter.com. While this is the fifth annual MLS Homegrown game, this year will mark Sands’ first selection to the event.

While Sands, and all NYCFC fans really, are still waiting for the moment when the Rye, NY native will crack the Starting XI — or make the 18 on a regular basis — the selection will prove to be another feather in the cap of what has been a rather impressive youth career so far. Along with this selection and being part of the NYCFC U-19 squad that just won the Development Academy Championship, Sands also has appeared in US U-17 squads, and even was a regular in the starting backline for the United States in the U-17 World Cup last summer.

Indeed, it’ll be exciting to see Sands represent NYCFC in this latest event that is meant to enlist all of the hope and positive feelings that are typically associated with it. He’ll no doubt have the support of the entire fanbase when he hits the pitch that night.