Latest news with #MLSAll-Stars
USA Today
3 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
MLS All-Stars 30 years later: How the league moved the ball forward
From new teams to an expanding fan base, see Major League Soccer's impressive three decades of growth. It's a rare all-star game that reflects a league's evolution, but that's what this year's MLS showcase offers. On July 23 at 9 p.m. ET, two dozen MLS players will step onto the field at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, and offer a snapshot of the league's progress. Though the MLS All-Stars may not defeat their counterparts from Mexico's Liga MX – broadcast live on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV – the league's upward trajectory is clear. Since its inaugural season in 1996, just two years after the United States hosted the 1994 World Cup, MLS has steadily grown alongside the nation's rising interest in soccer. Over the past three decades, global icons such as Carlos Valderrama, David Beckham, Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimović have brought star power and credibility to the league, helping shape its identity and elevate its global standing. But none has been as transformational as Lionel Messi, who is on this year's all-star roster. In July 2023, he joined Inter Miami, a club that played its first game in 2020. The Argentine World Cup champion not only quickly improved the team's profile and record, but he also elevated global awareness of the MLS because of his worldwide celebrity. How much has the MLS grown since its debut in 1996? Even before Messi's arrival, MLS had been on the upswing. With 12.2 million fans attending games last year, MLS was the second-highest-attended global soccer league in the world, behind only the English Premier League. MLS has a far reach with teams across the U.S. Since 1996, the league has tripled in size. San Diego FC became the 30th MLS club before the 2025 season, compared with just 10 clubs when the league debuted. The number of soccer-specific MLS stadiums is growing All 30 MLS clubs have their own facility, and 26 are soccer-specific. Three franchises will open new stadiums in the next three years (Inter Miami 2026, New York City FC 2027 and Chicago Fire 2028). It's a far cry from 1996, when there were no stadiums and no club training facilities. Some MLS franchises crack $1 billion mark Another significant area of growth has been franchise value: Five MLS teams are valued at more than $1 billion, and 14 others are among the top 50 most valuable soccer clubs in the world, according to Sportico. Los Angeles FC ($1.28 billion), Inter Miami ($1.19 billion), LA Galaxy ($1.11 billion), Atlanta United ($1.08 billion) and New York City FC ($1 billion) are the most valuable MLS franchises. MLS has succeeded in drawing international talent When the league made its debuted 1996, most of the 239 active players were American. The majority today are still American, but the league is drawing more international talent. MLS Cup championships by team D.C. United won the MLS Cup in the first season; since then, 15 teams have won the title: 'I think our league is going to continue to grow,' Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber told USA TODAY Sports before the season. 'Every time I'm asked that question, and I say, 'Here's what it will look like five years from now.' I underestimate where we're going to be. "At some point we're going to be celebrating just generations of Major League Soccer for fans here in the United States, Canada and around the world that love our league."
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
MLS All-Stars vs Liga MX All-Stars: Will Messi Play? — All you need to know, Roster, Live streaming info, Where to watch
The best players from North America's two biggest leagues will clash at the MLS All-Stars vs Liga MX All-Stars match at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas on Wednesday (Thursday, according to IST). When and where will the MLS All-Stars vs Liga MX All-Stars match start? The MLS All-Stars vs Liga MX All-Stars match will start at 9 PM ET (Eastern Standard Time) on Wednesday, July 23 (6:30 AM IST, Thursday, July 24) at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. Will Lionel Messi play in the MLS All-Stars vs Liga MX All-Stars match? Inter Miami's Lionel Messi has been chosen in the MLS All-Stars squad, but he and teammate Jordi Alba, who is also selected, did not attend the preliminary training session, which has raised doubts over their availability for the match. Will Messi and Alba be penalised if he does not play in the All-Stars match? Yes, rules say that if a player chosen for the clash missed the game without a valid reason (For example, a documented injury), then he would be given a one-match suspension by the MLS. This means that if Messi and Alba do not participate in the All-Star clash without a valid reason, they will get a one-match ban, will means they would not be in the matchday squad for Inter Miami's weekend home clash against Cincinnati FC. A similar suspension was handed out to Zlatan Ibrahimovic for missing the 2018 MLS All-Star Game. Where to watch the MLS All-Stars vs Liga MX All-Stars match in India? The MLS All-Stars vs Liga MX All-Stars match will be exclusively live-streamed on MLS Season Pass via the Apple TV app. Where to watch the MLS All-Stars vs Liga MX All-Stars match outside India? USA: Amazon Prime Video (in addition to Apple TV, DirecTV, and Comcast Xfinity UK: Sky Sports MLS ALL-STAR ROSTER GOALKEEPERS SQUAD Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United FC) - Voted In Brad Stuver (Austin FC) - Coach's Selection Yohei Takaoka (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) - Coach's Selection DEFENDERS Jordi Alba (Inter Miami CF) - Voted In Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew) - Coach's Selection Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) - Voted In Michael Boxall (Minnesota United FC) - Voted In Alex Freeman (Orlando City) - Voted In Jakob Glesnes (Philadelphia Union) - Coach's Selection Andy Najar (Nashville SC) - Coach's Selection Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati) - Coach's Selection Kai Wagner (Philadelphia Union) - Coach's Selection. MIDFIELDERS Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) - Voted In Cristian Espinoza (San Jose Earthquakes) - Coach's Selection Evander (FC Cincinnati) - Voted In Carles Gil (New England Revolution) - Coach's Selection Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake) - Voted In Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC) - Coach's Selection Jeppe Tverskov (San Diego FC) - Coach's Selection Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders FC) - Coach's Selection Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire FC) - Coach's Selection FORWARDS Tai Baribo (Philadelphia Union) - Voted In Denis Bouanga (LAFC) - Voted In Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC) - Coach's Selection Chucky Lozano (San Diego FC) - Commissioner's Pick Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF) - Voted In Marco Pašalić (Orlando City) - Coach's Selection Diego Rossi (Columbus Crew) - Coach's Selection Sam Surridge (Nashville SC) - Coach's Selection Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) - Voted In LIGA MX ALL-STAR ROSTER GOALKEEPERS Luis Malagon (Club America) - Balon de Oro nominee Kevin Mier (Cruz Azul) - Goalkeeper of the Year DEFENDERS Sebastian Caceres (Club America) - Coach's selection Willer Ditta (Cruz Azul) - Center Back of the Year Luan Garcia (Toluca) - Coach's selection Jesus Gallardo (Toluca) - Fullback of the Year Joaquim Pereira (Tigres UANL) - Balon de Oro nominee Sergio Ramos (CF Monterrey) - Coach's selection Israel Reyes (Club America) - Coach's selection Ignacio Rivero (Cruz Azul) - Coach's selection Carlos Rotondi (Cruz Azul) - Balon de Oro nominee MIDFIELDERS Roberto Alvarado (Chivas Guadalajara) - Coach's selection Juan Brunetta (Tigres UANL) - Balon de Oro nominee Sergio Canales (CF Monterrey) - Balon de Oro nominee Rodrigo Dourado (Atletico San Luis) - Coach's selection Erik Lara (Cruz Azul) - Balon de Oro nominee Elias Montiel (CF Pachuca) - Coach's selection Gilberto Mora (Club Tijuana) - Balon de Oro nominee James Rodriguez (Club Leon) - Coach's selection Marcel Ruiz (Toluca) - Coach's selection Agustin Palavecino (Necaxa) - Defensive Midfielder of the Year Alejandro Zendejas (Club America) - Coach's selection FORWARDS Diber Cambindo (Necaxa) - Coach's selection Hugo Camberos (Chivas Guadalajara) - Newcomer of the Year Uros Durdevic (Atlas FMF) - President Selection Henry Martin (Club America) - Balon de Oro nominee Paulinho (Toluca) - Forward of the Year Brian Rodriguez (Club America) - Coach's selection Alexis Vega (Toluca) - Attacking Midfielder of the Year
USA Today
17 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
MLS All-Star Skills Challenge vs. Liga MX: Time, how to watch, rosters, events
Major League Soccer's All-Star Skills Challenge is set for Tuesday, July 22 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, featuring some of the top players from MLS facing off against the LIGA MX All-Stars in a series of skills contests starring some special guests. 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 🎟️
San Francisco Chronicle
15-07-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Charlotte to host MLS All-Star game in 2026 for first time, AP source says
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte will host the Major League Soccer All-Star game for the first time in 2026, according to a person familiar with the decision. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement has not been made official. MLS commissioner Don Garber is expected to confirm the venue on Wednesday at a news conference in Charlotte. Charlotte FC, owned by Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper, was named the league's 28th franchise in 2019 and began play in the league in 2022. The game will be played at Bank of America Stadium, which is also home to the Panthers. This year's All-Star game is set for Austin, Texas, between the MLS All-Stars and the Liga MX All-Stars. The opponents for the 2026 All-Star game will be announced at a later date. ___
Hamilton Spectator
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Charlotte to host MLS All-Star game in 2026 for first time, AP source says
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte will host the Major League Soccer All-Star game for the first time in 2026, according to a person familiar with the decision. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement has not been made official. MLS commissioner Don Garber is expected to confirm the venue on Wednesday at a news conference in Charlotte. Charlotte FC, owned by Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper, was named the league's 28th franchise in 2019 and began play in the league in 2022. The game will be played at Bank of America Stadium, which is also home to the Panthers. Charlotte has recently hosted Copa America and Club World Cup games. This year's All-Star game is set for Austin, Texas, between the MLS All-Stars and the Liga MX All-Stars. The opponents for the 2026 All-Star game will be announced at a later date. ___ AP soccer:
