Major League Soccer's All-Star match is set for Wednesday, featuring the league's top players against a squad of Liga MX All-Stars at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The game kicks off at 8 p.m. and is part of a week of events centered around soccer, including a fan festival.
This matchup continues the tradition of pitting the two North American leagues against each other rather than holding an intra-league exhibition. It comes during a compressed MLS schedule, which paused from late May to mid-July for the World Cup and resumed on July 16 with rivalry matches.
Charlotte FC head coach Dean Smith has put together a 29-man roster for the MLS side. Supporters voted for 11 players, Smith selected 12, and MLS commissioner Don Garber made two additional picks. Among the notable players on the roster are Son Heung-min and Thomas Muller, alongside Toronto FC's Richie Laryea and three representatives from the Vancouver Whitecaps.
In the days leading up to the match, the roster underwent changes, with players including Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul excused for rest. Liga MX has named 24 players to its squad, with Toluca, the recent winner of the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, contributing four players. Cruz Azul has the highest representation with five players, while CF Pachuca also has four.
The match highlights the growing connection between MLS and Liga MX, with player transfers occurring frequently and clubs competing in continental tournaments. Historically, Liga MX teams have had an advantage in these matchups, adding a competitive edge to the exhibition.
