Major League Soccer's All-Star match is set for Wednesday, where the MLS All-Stars will take on a team of Liga MX All-Stars at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m. This event maintains the tradition of pitting the two North American leagues against each other instead of featuring an intra-league exhibition.
The match comes during a condensed MLS schedule, as the league had a break from late May until mid-July due to the World Cup, which took place across North America. The league resumed on July 16 with several rivalry matches.
Dean Smith, head coach of Charlotte FC, selected the MLS roster for this event at his home stadium. The 29-player lineup was created through a combination of fan voting, Smith's own choices, and selections made by MLS commissioner Don Garber.
Among the notable names on the roster are high-profile signings Son Heung-min and Thomas Muller, along with Toronto FC's Richie Laryea and three players from the Vancouver Whitecaps.
In the lead-up to the match, the roster experienced some changes. Initially included were Hugo Cuypers, Rodrigo De Paul, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, and Lionel Messi, but they were later replaced for various reasons, with Messi and De Paul excused for rest.
Liga MX's squad consists of 24 players, with Toluca contributing four representatives after their recent victory in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup. Cruz Azul has the highest representation with five players, while CF Pachuca also has four.
This match serves as the highlight of a week-long series of events in Charlotte, which includes a fan festival and other related activities. The format of MLS versus Liga MX underscores the close relationship between the two leagues, as player transfers occur frequently, and clubs compete against each other in continental tournaments.
