Major League Soccer's All-Stars are set to take on Liga MX All-Stars in a highly anticipated match at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday, with kickoff scheduled for 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 occurs during a tight MLS calendar, which resumed on July 16 after a pause for the World Cup, held across North America from late May to mid-July.
Head coach Dean Smith of Charlotte FC has curated the MLS roster, which includes 29 players. The selection process involved votes from supporters for 11 players, 12 picks from Smith, and two selections made by MLS commissioner Don Garber. Notable players on the roster include 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 changes. Players such as Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, Hugo Cuypers, and Mbekezeli Mbokazi were initially named but later replaced for various reasons, including rest for Messi and De Paul.
Liga MX has assembled a squad of 24 players, with Toluca, the recent winner of the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, contributing four players to the lineup. Cruz Azul has the highest representation with five players, while CF Pachuca also has four.
This match is the highlight of a week-long series of events in Charlotte, featuring a fan festival and other related activities. The competitive nature of the MLS versus Liga MX format reflects the growing interaction between the two leagues, as players frequently transfer between them and clubs compete in continental tournaments.
Historically, Liga MX teams have had an advantage in these matchups, adding an extra layer of competition to the exhibition.
