MLS All-Star Skills Challenge vs. Liga MX: Time, how to watch, rosters, events
Players will compete in shooting, touch, cross & volley, passing, and crossbar challenges – plus the fan-favorite Goalie Wars, pitting goalkeepers against each other as they try to both score defend their nets.
It's the second year in a row that the MLS All-Stars will face All-Stars from Mexico's top league, continuing a format that also ran in 2021-2022. From 2005-2019, the All-Star festivities featured MLS players facing a club from Europe.
The MLS All-Star Game itself is Wednesday, July 23, a day after the skills challenge.
Here's what you need to know:
When is the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge?
Watch 2025 MLS All-Star
MLS All-Stars vs. LIGA MX All-Star Skills Challenge rosters
(Italics indicate goalkeeper)
MLS All-Star Skills Challenge events
IShowSpeed will rep MLS in Skills Challenge
MLS announced that the YouTube personality and social media influencer will participate in the All-Star Skills Challenge.
The biggest test for IShowSpeed yet 👀🌟Catch him Tuesday (8pm CT) at the MLS Skills Challenge pres. by @att in Austin.Tickets 🎟️ https://t.co/NyHfn1ErsM pic.twitter.com/i3L10fBPVO
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New York Times
26 minutes ago
- New York Times
Obed Vargas measures his passes and his present while a brighter future awaits
AUSTIN, Texas — For a second straight year, Obed Vargas' high standard of play at such a young age could present him with a difficult decision. Last year, the 19-year-old Alaska-born midfielder was caught up in one of the most scrutinized dual-national decisions involving a player eligible for both Mexico and the United States. This year, standout performances with the Seattle Sounders in MLS and at the FIFA Club World Cup have vaulted Vargas into the transfer rumor mill. Sitting with The Athletic on the eve of a potential MLS All-Star Game debut, Vargas' confidence in what he's done and what lies ahead is palpable in spite of a relaxed posture and a reserved vocal register. Advertisement Having already played over 100 games for Seattle, Vargas will finally turn 20 in early August. Every performance of his garners a growing audience. What comes next is anybody's guess, but after three precocious showings against Botafogo, Atlético Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, it's clear he still has tremendous potential. 'That's probably the highest level I've ever played at, those three games,' Vargas said. 'Looking back at it, it was definitely a really good experience.' Of the three, Vargas felt the matchup against Botafogo was the one he enjoyed the most. Some of that is down to his team's performance — Seattle arguably outplayed the Brazilian club but was unable to finish a flurry of chances before falling 2-1. The result stayed in reach thanks to the work of Vargas and midfield partner Cristian Roldan, giving Seattle an engine room that could go toe-to-toe with their physical opposite numbers. In the early minutes against Botafogo, Vargas had three takeaways that sprung Seattle counters. One, in the fifth minute, saw Vargas pry the ball off of an opponent's foot and immediately spring a counter, weaving through the half-space before passing to Jesus Ferreira. While his striker's shot fizzed just wide of frame, it was an early indicator that the Sounders — and their teenage technician — were up to the task. It's a bit of opportunism that he's been working on in recent months. 'Whenever a team has the ball, they usually tend to be super expansive,' Vargas said. 'Super wide. That means, defensively, they're not really set up. I think if you can steal the ball, and you can beat two guys — I mean, the rest of the guys are spread out, they're not really in a good position (to stop you). 'I think my true position is that (number) eight: box to box. You have to be able to do both sides of the ball, and I've always tried to be the most complete player. Developing my weak foot has obviously helped me as well, my left foot. There's a lot of things that I'm looking to develop in my game.' Moments like this 🫶 Obed Vargas sharing a moment with his favorite player, Antoine Griezmann. — Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 20, 2025 In the past, Seattle predominantly used Vargas in a more withdrawn role, more of a defensive midfielder than that true box-to-box option. Over time, Vargas has been entrusted to advance into the final third more often, an approach he feels is possible thanks to Cristian Roldan's evolution as a ball-winner. Advertisement In league play this season, Vargas has taken 30.5% of his touches in the final third — a 4% increase over his 2024 possession rates. Those 5-to-6 additional final third touches per game don't go to waste — Vargas is completing 83% of his passes in the final third this year, second-highest of any Sounder and a 12% increase over his 2024 rate. It's only a good sign that Vargas wants to further refine his game, but it's undeniably that he's already established a high performance benchmark for himself. Even though he wasn't able to get a goal or an assist before the Sounders exited in the group stage at the Club World Cup, he capably went toe to toe with opponents including Champions League winner Vitinha and World Cup winner Rodrigo De Paul. He hopes to be in matchups like that more often in the coming years. 'Now I go back to playing MLS games and I feel like that we should win every game that we play, like, 3-0,' Vargas said of returning to league play, with Seattle having gone unbeaten in five following their elimination. 'We should be scoring a lot. That's where we're at now, and for me, personally, that's where I want to go. So just maintain that standard.' The Sounders expected Vargas to have his suitors if he played up to his usual level this summer. In June, general manager Craig Waibel told the MLS league website that 'we haven't received any official offers yet, but too many teams know about him.' From his conversations, potential partners — especially in Europe — were unsure about how soon he could contribute to their first team. While some may be more convinced after his Club World Cup showing, Vargas said Seattle still hasn't received a formal offer from anybody this summer. Few players are ever comfortable discussing a potential exit from their current club. That's especially true when the player has come through the club's academy, and there's simply no optimal time to leave home. Just ask Trent Alexander-Arnold, who ran his contract out before joining Real Madrid as Liverpool was putting the final touches on a Premier League title. After the move was confirmed, Alexander-Arnold was overwhelmed by how much booing and jeering he faced from an Anfield crowd that had long loved one of their own. Advertisement So first, a disclaimer courtesy of Vargas. 'We're talking about leaving, but I don't want to make people think my head's already somewhere else. I haven't spoken with any clubs right now. My head is definitely with the Sounders.' And yet, it's a topic he's willing to discuss in full. Such is the gravity of a decision he may soon be forced to make. He speaks with a veteran's wisdom, having already endured hard lessons that came with his decision to represent Mexico after playing most of his youth international career with the U.S. 'I mean, that's the hardest thing: trying to make everyone happy,' Vargas said. 'You can't always make everyone happy. I learned that when I made my switch to the Mexican national team. A lot of U.S. people, a lot of former (youth national) teammates of mine, sending me messages like I'm a traitor or whatnot. It's hard. You want to do what's best for you in the moment, but it sometimes means making other people mad.' Over time, Vargas has no regrets about committing to Mexico, despite admitting that while he heard from Gregg Berhalter to vet his interest in the USMNT, he never had a similar conversation with El Tri coach Javier Aguirre or his predecessor, Jaime Lozano. Nor did he consider which team would be more likely to select him for the upcoming World Cup, co-hosted by the two nations as well as Canada. Instead, he trusted his heart. 'When I would play with the U.S., I'd give everything,' Vargas said. 'Do the best I could, always be grateful for them and and always try to show out when I was wearing the U.S. jersey. But I think deep inside, I just had a different feeling when I saw Mexico play, when I saw my parents cheer on Mexico, and I saw my grandparents. It was just always my dream.' To date, Vargas has made just one appearance for Mexico's senior team, coming off the bench in a friendly win over the USMNT last fall. He was cut from the preliminary roster of this spring's Concacaf Nations League and ineligible to play in the Gold Cup as it directly clashed with the Club World Cup. Advertisement Despite the lack of recent involvement, he feels like part of the group that's hoping to restore Mexico to regional prominence ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Vargas has already seen some international teammates at the All-Star hotel, as Liga MX's squad features several active Mexico internationals. He also was happy to see young talent — like 16-year-old Gilberto Mora — feature prominently as Mexico won the Gold Cup a couple weeks ago. 'I think that was that was good for us young guys on the national team radar,' Vargas said, 'that the coach is giving a little bit more confidence to the young guys. Now that means if I come in and do well, he might give me more of a chance, which is great.' This summer transfer window is a pivotal one for any player on the fringes of a potential World Cup squad. The USMNT pool has seen several hopefuls find new clubs, including Patrick Agyemang (Derby County), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen) and Johnny Cardoso (Atlético Madrid). While Vargas is more than happy to finish the year with Seattle, he would prefer to make a gradual step rather than land at the biggest club possible regardless of fit. 'Right now, I think my eyes are set on Europe,' Vargas said, adding that he'd prefer to join a club in the leagues just below the continent's Big Five competitions. 'But I don't close the doors on Liga MX. I grew up watching mostly Liga MX. My team (Atlético Morelia) is not first division anymore, but one day, if I'm able to play there (in Mexico), I'll happily play there. The pressure is a lot. The fans always show up for their clubs. There's a lot of money in the league.' From there, Vargas immediately shifts his focus back to the present. His top priority is 'to win as much as I can with the Sounders.' Vargas announced his arrival with a vital shift from the bench in the second leg of the 2022 Concacaf Champions League final, but hardware has since eluded Seattle. They came close to returning to MLS Cup last year, suffering a gut-punch defeat away at the LA Galaxy. Amid the current hot stretch, Seattle is back in contention to win the West, contending with the Vancouver Whitecaps, San Diego FC and Minnesota United. At this point, it's seemingly a matter of when, not if, Vargas will venture to a club outside of MLS. That's a reality earned on the back of head-turning performances and an impressive ledger of involvement as a teenage player. Having already endured backlash for one decision, Vargas is confident he can parlay the development he's gotten from Seattle into further greatness — and he backs himself to know when and where that next step should come. 'I've always kind of been a people-pleaser,' Vargas said. 'I've always wanted to make everyone happy around me, but I've gotten to a point where I know that I need to do what's best for me and my family. Once my career is over, no one's gonna care anymore. In 15-20 years, everyone's gonna forget what I did — I mean, unless I made it really, really big time. Advertisement 'I mean, if the right offer comes in the summer, great — the Sounders have to accept as well. It has to be a mutual agreement. But for me, I'm still playing for the Sounders. I want to win as much as I can with the Sounders. It would be amazing to leave as an MLS Cup champion, to leave on a high, which is the best way to leave. 'I'm definitely focused on that and trying to win as much with the Sounders, because they've given me everything. They've given me this platform to grow and be here as an All-Star, representing them. So I have a job to do.'
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Where does Sixers star Paul George land on the all-time greats list?
Everybody knows what Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George can do when he's right. While injuries have robbed him of his once elite athleticism, George is still somebody who can knock down tough shots and give any team he's on a shot in the arm on the offensive end. A 9-time All-Star, George led the Indiana Pacers to the Eastern Conference finals in 2013 and 2014 before also leading the Los Angeles Clippers to their only conference finals appearance in franchise history in 2021. His first season with the Sixers was marred by injuries, but George is still a top player when right. Bleacher Report put together a top 100 players of all-time list and George landed at No. 78 on the list: During a stretch from 2014 to around 2019, your nerdiest NBA friend might have made the case that George was one of the five best players in the league. That claim wasn't far off, as PG overcame a gruesome broken leg in the summer of 2014 to earn four All-NBA nods in the next five years while regularly getting top-five DPOY consideration. Though George's best MVP finish (third) came with the Thunder in 2019, he'll be best remembered for being the top threat on some excellent Pacers teams that reached the conference finals twice and for teaming with Kawhi Leonard on some very good but unlucky Clippers squads. A jack of all trades who could run the offense, spot up for threes, defend the opponent's top scoring threat and wreak havoc in the passing lanes, George was a fully scalable superstar during his prime. Looking to rehab properly from an offseason knee surgery, George will look to give the Sixers the player they were expecting when they signed him to a 4-year $212 million deal. If he can bounce back and give Philadelphia some help on the offensive end, then the Sixers should be in an excellent spot to contend.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
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