South Charlotte Today

Charlotte FC Unified Athlete and Partner Earn 2024 All-Star Honors

Jul 18, 2024

MLS Unified Soccer brings together Special Olympics athletes with intellectual disabilities and community partners for meaningful experiences in the game of soccer. Charlotte FC Unified concluded its season undefeated, securing victories over teams from Nashville, Houston, and Miami.

Special Olympics athlete Kevin Alvarado and community partner Jaime Escobar have been selected to represent Charlotte FC in the 2024 MLS Unified All-Star match. Kevin, playing his second year, is noted for his versatility across numerous positions and leads the team in goals this season. Jaime, in his first year with the team, has impressed as a midfielder with notable dribbling and passing skills. Both players are recognized for their outstanding play, work ethic, commitment, and enthusiasm for Unified Soccer.

"It's been more than an exceptional experience. I’ve been so appreciative of a truly unified spirit among coaches, athletes, and partners," said Dustin Swinehart, Charlotte FC's Director of Community Engagement. "It's been a program that has touched all our hearts really deeply."

MLS and Special Olympics will host the 9th annual Special Olympics Unified Sports® All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 23 at 3:30 pm ET at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

The event will feature 52 Unified team members representing 26 MLS clubs in an 11 vs. 11 competitive match. The teams include players with intellectual disabilities (Special Olympics athletes) and without intellectual disabilities (Unified partners), all outfitted in authentic uniforms provided by adidas. MLS Greats will serve as celebrity coaches for the game.

The East and West Unified All-Star teams will also be recognized on-field before the MLS All-Star Game presented by Target on July 24 (8 pm ET | MLS Season Pass).

The Unified All-Star Game is part of the season-long Special Olympics Unified Soccer Exchange program that offers opportunities for Unified soccer teams to engage in first-team MLS experiences. These include home and away exhibition matches scheduled alongside MLS first-team matches and various unique experiences such as signing days, jersey unveils, buddy programs with MLS first-team players, and matchday recognition.

Full rosters for the 2024 Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star Game can be found here.

For further information about Unified soccer, please visit our Unified Team page or email unified@charlottefootballclub.com.