On Wednesday, Major League Soccer's All-Stars will take on Liga MX's All-Stars at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The match is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.
This event continues the tradition of pitting the two North American leagues against each other rather than featuring an exhibition within a single league. The match comes during a condensed MLS schedule, which saw a pause from late May through mid-July for the World Cup hosted across North America, before resuming on July 16 with rivalry games.
Dean Smith, head coach of Charlotte FC, has selected the MLS squad on his home turf. The roster of 29 players was formed through a combination of fan votes, Smith's own selections, and picks made by MLS commissioner Don Garber.
Among the notable players included in the lineup are Son Heung-min and Thomas Muller, along with Toronto FC's Richie Laryea. Additionally, three players from the Vancouver Whitecaps were named.
In the days leading up to the match, there were changes to the roster, with players such as Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, Hugo Cuypers, and Mbekezeli Mbokazi being replaced for various reasons, including rest for Messi and De Paul.
Liga MX has announced a squad of 24 players, featuring four representatives from Toluca, the recent winners of the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup. Cruz Azul has the highest number of players on the roster with five, while CF Pachuca also contributes four players.
This matchup is the highlight of a week-long series of events in Charlotte, which includes a fan festival and various related activities.
