Major League Soccer's All-Star match is set to take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the MLS All-Stars will compete against a squad of Liga MX All-Stars. The event is scheduled for Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium.
This match continues the tradition of pitting the two North American leagues against each other, rather than featuring an intra-league exhibition. It comes during a compressed MLS calendar, which paused from late May to mid-July for the World Cup hosted across North America. The league resumed on July 16 with a series of rivalry matches.
Dean Smith, head coach of Charlotte FC, selected the MLS roster on his home turf. The 29-player lineup was created through a combination of fan voting, Smith's personal selections, and picks made by MLS commissioner Don Garber. Notable players on the roster include high-profile signings Son Heung-min and Thomas Muller, alongside Toronto FC's Richie Laryea and three players from the Vancouver Whitecaps.
In the days leading up to the match, the roster experienced some changes. Initially named players Hugo Cuypers, Rodrigo De Paul, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, and Lionel Messi were replaced for various reasons, with Messi and De Paul excused for rest.
Liga MX's squad features 24 players, with Toluca contributing four representatives after their recent victory in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup. Cruz Azul has the most players selected, with five, while CF Pachuca also has four.
The match is part of a week-long series of events in Charlotte, including a fan festival and related programming. This showcase highlights the competitive nature of the MLS versus Liga MX format, as players frequently transfer between the leagues and clubs often meet in continental competitions. Historically, Liga MX teams have had an advantage in these matchups, adding to the competitive atmosphere of the exhibition.
