Six days before the Leagues Cup kicks off with a 36-team tournament between select teams from Major League Soccer and Mexico's Liga MX, star players from both leagues will compete against each other at the MLS All-Star Game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday, July 29.
Wednesday night's All-Star showcase will be the fifth which pits MLS stars against those from Liga MX. MLS won the most recent match, 3-1, in 2025 and holds a 3-1 series edge in the All-Star showcase.
The MLS squad features 10 players who competed in the 2026 World Cup (Lionel Messi, however, will not be at the All-Star Game). The Liga MX team includes four players were were on Mexico's 2026 World Cup roster: Midfielder Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), defenders Jesús
Gallardo (Toluca FC) and Israel Reyes (Club América), and goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna).
USA TODAY Sports will provide updates and highlights for the 2026 MLS All-Star Game:
What time does the MLS All-Star game start?
The MLS All-Star Game will take place on Wednesday, July 29 at 8 p.m. ET.
How can I watch the MLS All-Star game?
The MLS All-Star Game will stream for free on Apple TV. Pregame coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET.
Watch MLS games on Apple TV
MLS starting XI for All-Star Game
Forwards: Julian Hall (Red Bull New York), Son Heung-Min (LAFC), Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire FC)
Midfielders: Carles Gil (New England Revolution), Yannick Bright (Inter Miami CF), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC)
Defenders: Anthony Markanich (Minnesota United FC), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Lucas Herrington (Colorado Rapids), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew)
Goalkeeper: Matt Freese (New York City FC)
The Kings of the Queen City. 👑
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 29, 2026
Ready to take on @LigaBBVAMX on Apple TV at 8pm ET: https://t.co/S1M8auO0fX pic.twitter.com/RzMGLQejyW
Liga MX starting XI for MLS All-Star Game
Forwards: Juan Brunetta (Tigres UANL), Robert Morales (Pumas UNAM), Alexei Domínguez (CF Pachuca)
Midfielders: Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Elías Montiel (CF Pachuca)
Defenders: Jesús Gallardo (Toluca FC), Luis Gabriel Rey (Chivas Guadalajara), Bruno Méndez (Toluca FC), Willer Ditta (Cruz Azul), Jesús Garza (Tigres UANL)
Goalkeeper: Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna)
¡Definidas nuestras 1️⃣1️⃣ estrellas que hoy arrancan en Charlotte! 🤩
— Liga BBVA MX (@LigaBBVAMX) July 29, 2026
¡Vamos equipo! 👊🏻
Las figuras de la #MLS se enfrentan a los mejores de la #LIGABBVAMX. ⚽️ Ve el #MLSAllStarGame 2026 en vivo en @AppleTV. 📺@voit_mx pic.twitter.com/sgP2hkSuxO
Why isn't Lionel Messi playing in MLS All-Star Game?
The biggest star of them all won't be present at the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 29.
Lionel Messi will miss out on the showdown between stars from MLS and Liga MX in Charlotte, having only recently concluded his participation in the 2026 World Cup.
Messi played every game of Argentina's run to the final, which ended in a 1-0 defeat to Spain on Sunday, July 19. — Seth Vertelney
Where is the 2026 MLS All-Star game?
The game will be held at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. The home of MLS's Charlotte FC and NFL's Carolina Panthers, the stadium opened in 1996 opened and has a capacity of 75,037.
Carolina Panthers legend Steve Smith is at MLS All-Star Game
Likely future Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Steve Smith — who played 13 seasons for the Carolina Panthers — is present for Thursday night's MLS All-Star Game. Apple TV's broadcast team caught up with him before the game:
Bringing that football physicality to Charlotte's soccer scene 🏈🤝⚽
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 29, 2026
Steve Smith Sr. is ready for the MLS All-Star Game pres. by @Chime!
📺 Apple TV (8pm ET): https://t.co/bCZWkYJemT pic.twitter.com/6C1LZ30Ei6
Ciara to perform MLS All-Star Game halftime show
Ciara, who is a co-owner of the Seattle Sounders, will headline the halftime show for the 2026 MLS All-Star Game.
MLS All-Star Game 2026 roster
Goalkeepers (3): Maxime Crépeau (Orlando City SC), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC)
Defenders (9): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Lucas Herrington (Colorado Rapids), Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Anthony Markanich (Minnesota United FC), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew), Daniel Munie (San Jose Earthquakes), Andy Najar (Nashville SC), Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders FC), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC)
Midfielders (9): Pep Biel (Charlotte FC), Yannick Bright (Inter Miami CF), Andrés Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Evander (FC Cincinnati), Carles Gil (New England Revolution), Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC), Thomas Müller (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Ashley Westwood (Charlotte FC)
Forwards (7): Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), Guilherme (Houston Dynamo FC), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York), Son Heung-Min (LAFC), Petar Musa (FC Dallas), Sam Surridge (Nashville SC), Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire FC)
Liga MX roster for 2026 MLS All-Star Game
Goalkeepers (2): Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna), Carlos Moreno (CF Pachuca)
Defenders (9): Omar Campos (Cruz Azul), Willer Ditta (Cruz Azul), Jesús Gallardo (Toluca FC), Jesús Garza (Tigres UANL), Bruno Méndez (Toluca FC), Federico Pereira (Toluca FC), Luis Gabriel Rey (Chivas Guadalajara), Israel Reyes (Club América), Nathan Silva (Pumas UNAM)
Midfielders (9): Juan Brunetta (Tigres UANL), Kevin Castañeda (Chivas Guadalajara), Iker Fimbres (CF Monterrey), Fernando Gorriarán (Tigres UANL), Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Elías Montiel (CF Pachuca), José Paradela (Cruz Azul), Carlos Rodríguez (Cruz Azul), Franco Romero (Toluca FC), Javier Ruiz (Necaxa)
Forwards (3): Alexei Domínguez (CF Pachuca), Salomón Rondón (CF Pachuca), Robert Morales (Pumas UNAM)
Previous MLS vs. Liga MX All-Star Game results
- 2025 (Austin): MLS 3, Liga MX 1
- 2024 (Columbus): Liga MX 4, MLS 1
- 2022 (Minnesota): MLS 2, Liga MX 1
- 2021 (Los Angeles): MLS 1, Liga MX 1 (MLS won penalty shootout, 3-2)
Is there Leagues Cup this year?
The Leagues Cup – the 36-team tournament featuring select clubs from MLS and Mexico's Liga MX – will be back in 2026, kicking off on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
While all 18 Liga MX clubs compete in Leagues Cup, not every team from Major League Soccer participates in the tournament, with the 18 teams that reached the 2025 playoffs qualifying for the 2026 Leagues Cup tournament.
The Seattle Sounders are the defending Leagues Cup champions, having won the 2025 tournament final over Inter Miami. The Columbus Crew won the 2024 Leagues Cup tournament, while Inter Miami won the 2023 edition in Lionel Messi's first season with the team.
MLS 2026 season key dates
- Aug. 4-Sept. 6: Leagues Cup
- Sept. 16: Campeones Cup: Inter Miami (2025 MLS Cup winner) vs. Cruz Azul (2026 LIGA MX Clausura champion), Nu Stadium, Miami
- Oct. 21: Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final
- Nov. 7: Final day of regular season (MLS Decision Day)
- Nov. 18-Dec. 12: MLS playoffs
- Dec. 18: 2026 MLS Cup
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLS All-Star Game vs. Liga MX live updates: Starting lineups, how to watch
