MLS All-Star Game 2026: Everything You Need to Know
The 30th annual MLS All-Star Game arrives this week, and for the third year running it pits the best of Major League Soccer against a Liga MX All-Star squad — a rivalry that’s quickly become one of the highlights of the North American soccer calendar. Here’s everything you need to know before kickoff.
Date and Kickoff Time
The 2026 MLS All-Star Game presented by Chime takes place on Wednesday, July 29, with kickoff set for 8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT / 5:00 p.m. PT.
Venue
This year’s match is being played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina — home of Charlotte FC and the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. It’s the first time the venue has hosted an MLS All-Star Game, and Tepper Sports & Entertainment has framed the occasion as a showcase moment for the city, with All-Star Week bringing community programming and celebrations across the Carolinas alongside the match itself.
TV Channel and How to Watch
The game streams exclusively on Apple TV, available in more than 100 countries and regions worldwide as part of MLS’s broadcast partnership with the platform. The match can be accessed through the Apple TV app on Apple devices, Android devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes and game consoles.
The Skills Challenge
All-Star Week kicks off a day earlier with the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T, taking place Tuesday, July 28 at Truist Field, also in Charlotte, with coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET, also on Apple TV. The event features shooting, passing and crossbar challenges designed to let players showcase their technique outside the pressure of a competitive match, and it typically draws participants from both the MLS and Liga MX rosters.What World Cup 2026 Means for MLS: A Host Country’s Football Revolution
The Opponent: Liga MX All-Stars
This marks the fifth all-time meeting between MLS and Liga MX in the All-Star format, and the third consecutive year the two leagues have squared off. MLS holds a 3-1 edge in the head-to-head series, with Liga MX’s only win coming via a lopsided 4-1 scoreline in Columbus back in 2024. MLS most recently won 3-1 in Austin last summer. Liga MX’s 24-player squad is led by Toluca boss Antonio Mohamed, fresh off guiding his club to the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup title.
Tickets
Tickets for both the All-Star Game and the Skills Challenge went on sale to the general public on Tuesday, March 24, at 10 a.m. ET.
Which MLS Stars Will Miss the 2026 All-Star Game?
Several high-profile MLS stars will not feature in the 2026 MLS All-Star Game, with Lionel Messi headlining the list of absentees. The Inter Miami captain has been granted additional rest following Argentina’s run to the FIFA World Cup final and will skip the annual showcase. Fellow Inter Miami midfielder Rodrigo De Paul is also unavailable for the same reason. Chicago Fire forward Hugo Cuypers will miss the match after completing his transfer to Liga MX side Monterrey, while Vancouver Whitecaps defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi has been ruled out through injury. MLS has named replacement players to ensure the All-Star squad remains competitive.
The Bigger Picture
Bank of America Stadium has already hosted nearly three million fans across MLS, Leagues Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Copa América and international friendly matches since Charlotte FC’s inception, and this year’s All-Star Game adds another marquee occasion to that list. With MLS and Liga MX continuing to build out their All-Star rivalry and a host city eager to put on a show, this year’s edition arrives with plenty of momentum behind it — even before accounting for the storylines already swirling around who is, and isn’t, actually on the field.
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