Major League Soccer's All-Stars are set to take on Liga MX's All-Stars in a highly anticipated match at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The game is scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
This match continues the tradition of showcasing the two prominent North American leagues against each other, rather than featuring an exhibition solely within one league. The timing of this event comes amid a compressed MLS calendar, which saw a pause from late May to mid-July for the World Cup, before resuming on July 16 with a series of rivalry games.
Charlotte FC head coach Dean Smith selected the MLS All-Star roster on his home turf. The squad consists of 29 players, chosen through a combination of fan voting, Smith's own selections, and picks from 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 representatives from the Vancouver Whitecaps.
In the days leading up to the match, the roster experienced some changes. Players Hugo Cuypers, Rodrigo De Paul, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, and Lionel Messi were initially named but later replaced for various reasons, with Messi and De Paul excused for rest.
Liga MX's squad features 24 players, including four from Toluca, who recently claimed victory in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup. Cruz Azul leads the Liga MX representation with five players, while CF Pachuca has four.
The match is a highlight of a week-long series of events in Charlotte, which includes a fan festival and additional programming surrounding the game. This format underscores the growing relationship between MLS and Liga MX, as players frequently transfer between the leagues and clubs compete in continental tournaments.
