Major League Soccer's All-Stars will take on Liga MX's All-Stars Wednesday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m. This match continues the tradition of pitting the two North American leagues against each other, rather than featuring an intra-league exhibition.
The event occurs amid a compressed MLS calendar, which saw a pause from late May to mid-July for the World Cup hosted across North America. The league resumed on July 16 with a series of rivalry matches.
Charlotte FC head coach Dean Smith was responsible for selecting the MLS roster, which includes 29 players. The roster was formed through a combination of fan voting, Smith's selections, and picks made by MLS commissioner Don Garber. Notable players on the roster include 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 days leading up to the match, several players were replaced on the roster. Initially named players Hugo Cuypers, Rodrigo De Paul, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, and Lionel Messi were later excused for various reasons, including rest for Messi and De Paul.
Liga MX has assembled a squad 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.
The match is part of a week-long series of events in Charlotte, featuring a fan festival and other programming. The MLS versus Liga MX format highlights the close relationship between the two leagues, with player transfers occurring frequently and clubs competing in continental tournaments. Historically, Liga MX teams have had an advantage in these matchups, adding competitive significance to the exhibition.
