MLS All-Star Game
Founded1996
RegionMajor League Soccer (CONCACAF)
Number of teams2
Current championsEngland Arsenal F.C.
(2nd title)
Most successful club(s)United StatesCanada MLS All-Stars (11 titles)
Television broadcastersMLS Season Pass
2023 MLS All-Star Game

The Major League Soccer All-Star Game is an annual soccer game held by Major League Soccer featuring selected players from the league against an international club or selected players from another league. MLS initially adopted a traditional all-star game format used by other North American sports leagues where the Eastern Conference squared off against the Western Conference. This eventually evolved into the current system where the league annually invites a club from abroad to play against a league all-star team in a friendly match; in 2021 and 2022, an all-star team from Liga MX was the opponent. The MLS All-Stars hold a 9–8 record in the competition, which generally marks the season's midpoint. Players are awarded roster spots through a combination of fan voting and selections by the appointed manager and league commissioner.

In case of a tie after full-time, the game does not use a 30-minute extra time period; instead it goes straight to a penalty shoot-out. The match is preceded by a skills challenge tournament, which was introduced in 2018 and features three-player teams competing in various events. The All-Star Game also runs parallel to the MLS Next All-Star Game, which debuted in 2014 as the Homegrown Game.[1]

History

Major League Soccer's first all-star game was played at Giants Stadium in the summer of 1996. The game, using an East–West format with players handpicked by the coaching staffs to emulate other American leagues, was the first game of a doubleheader with the Brazil national team defeating a team of FIFA World All-Stars.[2][3] The matchup between divisions would only be used for six seasons as MLS tried experimenting with different formats. The 1998 All-Star Game placed a team of American MLS players against MLS players from abroad. The 2002 game, the first to use a league-wide all-star team, was the only game to feature a national team opponent.

Since then (except in 2004), every opponent has been a foreign club invited by the league. The MLS All-Stars won their first six games before falling to Everton in penalties in 2009. All games from 2005 to 2019 have been against teams from Europe, the majority of which have been from England's Premier League. The European league schedule runs from fall to spring, allowing for a fixture against the MLS All-Stars during the preseasons of teams.[4] The 2020 All-Star Game was to be the first to feature the all-star team from another league, Liga MX; however, that game was cancelled.[5]

In August 2005, an 18-player all-star team squad named the "MLS Select Team" competed in the Trofeo Santiago Bernabéu, a friendly hosted by Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. The All-Star team, coached by Steve Nicol, lost 5–0 after being given only two days to prepare between normal league matches.[6]

The roster is chosen using a mix of fan votes, nominations from the coach, and commissioner's pick. Some players, including English midfielders Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in 2015, have been picked to participate in the All-Star Game despite not playing in club matches.[7] Players who are picked to play in the All-Star Game but refuse to join the team are suspended from one league match.[8]

Roster

For 2014, ten players were chosen by All-Star Game coach Caleb Porter, eleven players were chosen by fan voting (subject to Porter's approval), and two were selected by MLS commissioner Don Garber.[9]

Skills Challenge

The modern incarnation of the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge, introduced in 2018, is a freestyle soccer event that features three-player teams competing against each other in minigames, including a touch-and-volley goal showcase, a shooting accuracy competition, and a passing-and-shooting challenge.[10] The older version of the skills challenge was retired in 2001 and featured other events, including "goalie wars" and soccer tennis.[11]

Results by team

Team Won Lost Total
United StatesCanada MLS All-Stars 11 9 20
United States MLS East 5[lower-alpha 1] 1 6
United States MLS West 2[lower-alpha 1] 4 6
England Arsenal 2 — 2
England Manchester United 2 — 2
England Everton 1 — 1
Italy Juventus 1 — 1
Italy Roma 1 — 1
Spain Atlético Madrid 1 — 1
Spain Real Madrid 1 — 1
United States MLS USA 1 — 1
England Chelsea — 2 2
England Fulham — 1 1
England Tottenham Hotspur — 1 1
England West Ham United — 1 1
Germany Bayern Munich — 1 1
Mexico Guadalajara — 1 1
Scotland Celtic — 1 1
United Nations MLS World — 1 1
United States United States — 1 1
Mexico Liga MX All-Stars — 2 2
Notes
  1. 1 2 One tie that is counted as a shared win.

Results by nation

Team Winner Runner-up Total
United States United States 17 16 33
Canada Canada 11 9 20
England England 5 5 10
Italy Italy 2 — 2
Spain Spain 2 — 2
Germany Germany — 1 1
Mexico Mexico — 2 2
Scotland Scotland — 1 1
United Nations World — 1 1

Results by year

"East vs. West" (1996–1997)

July 14, 1996 1996 MLS All-Star Game MLS East United States 3–2 United States MLS West Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Ramos 14'
Savarese 69'
Pittman 88'		 Report Preki 33'
Kreis 37'		 Attendance: 78,416
Referee: Kevin Stott
MVP: Carlos Valderrama

"MLS USA vs. MLS World" (1998)

August 2, 1998 1998 MLS All-Star Game MLS USA United States 6–1 United Nations MLS World Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida
T. Ramos 5'
Lalas 15'
McBride 16'
Preki 40'
Lassiter 78'
Jones 83'		 Report M. Ramos 89' Attendance: 34,416
Referee: Esse Baharmast
MVP: Brian McBride

"East vs. West" (1999–2001)

July 17, 1999 1999 MLS All-Star Game MLS East United States 4–6 United States MLS West Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
Lassiter 1'
Moore 62' (pen.)
Valderrama 73'
John 83'		 Report Preki 13', 38'
Kosecki 32'
Jones 36'
Wright 84'
Cerritos 89'		 Attendance: 23,227
Referee: Sandra Hunt
MVP: Preki
July 28, 2001 2001 MLS All-Star Game MLS West United States 6–6 United States MLS East Spartan Stadium, San Jose, California
Donovan 3', 7', 19', 90+2'
Graziani 26'
Kovalenko 69'		 Report Chacón 28'
McBride 34', 39'
Diallo 53'
Rooney 84'
Catê 87'		 Attendance: 23,512
Referee: Noel Kenney
MVP: Landon Donovan

"All-Stars vs. Guest" (2002–2003)

August 3, 2002 2002 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United States 3–2  United States RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
Kreis 59'
Etcheverry 72'
Ralston 81'		 Report Donovan 58'
Jones 76'		 Attendance: 31,096
Referee: Brian Hall
MVP: Marco Etcheverry
August 2, 2003 2003 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United States 3–1 Mexico Guadalajara Home Depot Center, Carson, California
Razov 57'
Ruiz 68'
Beasley 83'		 Report García 66' Attendance: 27,000
Referee: Kevin Terry
MVP: Carlos Ruiz

"East vs. West" (2004)

July 31, 2004 2004 MLS All-Star Game MLS East United States 3–2 United States MLS West RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
Guevara 20', 22' (pen.)
Eskandarian 74'		 Report Ching 43'
Kreis 89'		 Attendance: 21,378
Referee: Michael Kennedy
MVP: Amado Guevara

"All-Stars vs. Europe" (2005–2019)

July 30, 2005 2005 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United States 4–1 England Fulham Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Twellman 23'
O’Brien 56'
Cunningham 85', 89'		 Report Jensen 66' (pen.) Attendance: 23,309
Referee: Ricardo Valenzuela
MVP: Taylor Twellman
August 5, 2006 2006 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United States 1–0 England Chelsea Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois
De Rosario 70' Report Attendance: 21,210
Referee: Abbey Okulaja
MVP: Dwayne De Rosario
July 19, 2007 2007 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United StatesCanada 2–0 Scotland Celtic Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado
Ángel 36'
Toja 44'		 Report Attendance: 18,661
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
MVP: Juan Pablo Ángel
July 24, 2008 2008 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United StatesCanada 3–2 England West Ham United BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario
Gómez 27'
Blanco 45'
De Rosario 70' (pen.)		 Report Ashton 26', 67' Attendance: 20,844
Referee: Mauricio Navarro
MVP: Cuauhtémoc Blanco
July 28, 2010 2010 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United StatesCanada 2–5 England Manchester United Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas
Ching 64'
De Rosario 90'		 Report Macheda 1', 13'
Gibson 70'
Cleverley 73'
Hernández 84'		 Attendance: 70,728
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
MVP: Federico Macheda
July 27, 2011 2011 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United StatesCanada 0–4 England Manchester United Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey
Report Anderson 20'
Park Ji-sung 45'
Berbatov 52'
Welbeck 68'		 Attendance: 26,760
Referee: Jair Marrufo
MVP: Park Ji-sung
July 25, 2012 2012 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United StatesCanada 3–2 England Chelsea PPL Park, Chester, Pennsylvania
Wondolowski 21'
Pontius 73'
Johnson 90+1'		 Report Terry 32'
Lampard 58'		 Attendance: 19,236
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
MVP: Chris Pontius
July 31, 2013 2013 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United StatesCanada 1–3 Italy Roma Sporting Park, Kansas City, Kansas
20:30 Gonzalez 90+1' Report Strootman 4'
Florenzi 47'
Tallo 68'		 Attendance: 21,175
Referee: Hilario Grajeda
MVP: Alessandro Florenzi
August 6, 2014 2014 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United StatesCanada 2–1 Germany Bayern Munich Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
Wright-Phillips 51'
Donovan 70'		 Report Lewandowski 8' Attendance: 21,733
Referee: Jair Marrufo
MVP: Landon Donovan
July 29, 2015 2015 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United StatesCanada 2–1 England Tottenham Hotspur Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado
Kaká 20' (pen.)
Villa 23'		 Report Kane 37' Attendance: 18,671
Referee: Ismail Elfath
MVP: Kaká
July 28, 2016 2016 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United StatesCanada 1–2 England Arsenal Avaya Stadium, San Jose, California
Drogba 45+2' Report Campbell 10' (pen.)
Akpom 87'		 Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Chris Penso
MVP: Chuba Akpom
August 2, 2017 2017 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United StatesCanada 1–1
(2–4 p)		 Spain Real Madrid Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Dwyer 87' Report Mayoral 59' Attendance: 61,428
Referee: Allen Chapman
MVP: Borja Mayoral
Penalties
Dwyer soccer ball with red X
Dos Santos soccer ball with red X
Valeri soccer ball with check mark
Almirón soccer ball with check mark		 soccer ball with check mark Benzema
soccer ball with check mark Bale
soccer ball with check mark Kovačić
soccer ball with check mark Marcelo
August 1, 2018 2018 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United StatesCanada 1–1
(3–5 p)		 Italy Juventus Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Martínez 26' Report Favilli 21' Attendance: 72,317
Referee: Robert Sibiga
MVP: Josef Martínez
Penalties
Zusi soccer ball with check mark
Yotún soccer ball with check mark
Valeri soccer ball with check mark
Wright-Phillips soccer ball with red X		 soccer ball with check mark Fagioli
soccer ball with check mark Beltrame
soccer ball with check mark Kastanos
soccer ball with check mark Fernandes
soccer ball with check mark De Sciglio
July 31, 2019 2019 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United StatesCanada 0–3 Spain Atlético Madrid Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Report Llorente 43'
Félix 85'
Costa 90+3'		 Attendance: 25,527
Referee: Drew Fischer
MVP: Marcos Llorente

"All-Stars vs. Liga MX All-Stars" (2021–2022)

August 25, 2021 2021 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United StatesCanada 1–1
(3–2 p)		 Mexico Liga MX All-Stars Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, California
Murillo 53' Report Rodríguez 20' Attendance: 21,000
Referee: Armando Villarreal
MVP: Matt Turner
Penalties
Note: Originally scheduled for July 29, 2020; postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]
August 10, 2022 2022 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United States Canada 2–1 Mexico Liga MX All-Stars Allianz Field, Saint Paul, Minnesota
20:30 ET
Report
Attendance: 19,727
Referee: Joe Dickerson
MVP: Dayne St. Clair

Recent editions

July 19, 2023 2023 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United States Canada 0–5 England Arsenal Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
20:30 ET Report
Attendance: 20,621
Referee: Ted Unkel
MVP: Bukayo Saka

Future editions

July 24, 2024 2024 MLS All-Star Game MLS All-Stars United States Canada v N/A TBA Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio[13]
TBA

Most Valuable Player

As of 2023[14][15]
Ed. Winner Nationality Position Team MLS club
1996 Carlos Valderrama  Colombia Midfielder United States MLS East Tampa Bay Mutiny
1997 Carlos Valderrama  Colombia Midfielder United States MLS East Tampa Bay Mutiny
1998 Brian McBride  United States Forward United States MLS USA Columbus Crew
1999 Preki  United States Midfielder United States MLS West Kansas City Wizards
2000 Mamadou Diallo  Senegal Forward United States MLS East Tampa Bay Mutiny
2001 Landon Donovan  United States Forward United States MLS West San Jose Earthquakes
2002 Marco Etcheverry  Bolivia Forward United States MLS All-Stars D.C. United
2003 Carlos Ruiz  Guatemala Forward United States MLS All-Stars LA Galaxy
2004 Amado Guevara  El Salvador Midfielder United States MLS East NY/NJ Metrostars
2005 Taylor Twellman  United States Forward United States MLS All-Stars New England Revolution
2006 Dwayne De Rosario  Canada Midfielder United States MLS All-Stars Houston Dynamo
2007 Juan Pablo Ángel  Colombia Forward CanadaUnited States MLS All-Stars New York Red Bulls
2008 Cuauhtémoc Blanco  Mexico Forward CanadaUnited States MLS All-Stars Chicago Fire
2009 Tim Howard  United States Goalkeeper England Everton —
2010 Federico Macheda  Italy Forward England Manchester United —
2011 Park Ji-sung  South Korea Midfielder England Manchester United —
2012 Chris Pontius  United States Midfielder CanadaUnited States MLS All-Stars D.C. United
2013 Alessandro Florenzi  Italy Defender Italy Roma —
2014 Landon Donovan  United States Forward CanadaUnited States MLS All-Stars LA Galaxy
2015 Kaká  Brazil Midfielder CanadaUnited States MLS All-Stars Orlando City
2016 Chuba Akpom  England Forward England Arsenal —
2017 Borja Mayoral  Spain Forward Spain Real Madrid —
2018 Josef Martínez  Venezuela Forward CanadaUnited States MLS All-Stars Atlanta United FC
2019 Marcos Llorente  Spain Midfielder Spain Atlético Madrid —
2020 Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic[16]
2021 Matt Turner[17]  United States Goalkeeper CanadaUnited States MLS All-Stars New England Revolution
2022 Dayne St. Clair[18]  Canada Goalkeeper CanadaUnited States MLS All-Stars Minnesota United FC
2023 Bukayo Saka[19]  England Forward England Arsenal —

Broadcasting

Since 2023, rights for the MLS All-Star Game have been held by Apple TV+. The match and associated events are broadcast in English, French, and Spanish on MLS Season Pass;[20] the 2023 edition was made free to stream.[21]

The U.S. broadcast in English alternated between ESPN and Fox from 2015 to 2022, with the networks also alternating the MLS Cup.[22][23] In even numbered years, ESPN has broadcast the All-Star Game[24] while Fox would broadcast the MLS Cup. Likewise, in odd numbered years, Fox would be slated to broadcast the All-Star Game[25][26] while ESPN or its sister network, ABC beginning in 2019, would broadcast the MLS Cup.

References

  1. ↑ Tansey, Joe (July 30, 2019). "MLS rallies from behind to win Homegrown Game". Pro Soccer USA. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  2. ↑ Stephenson, Colinwas (July 14, 1996). "Soccer Fans Get Their Kicks With 2 All-star Games Today". NY Daily News. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  3. ↑ Yannis, Alex (July 16, 1996). "SOCCER REPORT". The New York Times. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  4. ↑ Tansey, Joe (August 1, 2019). "MLS All-Stars ponder adjustments to All-Star Game format". Pro Soccer USA. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  5. ↑ Baxter, Kevin (November 18, 2019). "MLS All-Stars will play top Liga MX players next summer at Banc of California Stadium". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  6. ↑ Froh, Tim (September 23, 2015). "When the MLS all-stars played Real Madrid: 'We got set up for failure'". The Guardian. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  7. ↑ Williams, Bob (July 14, 2015). "Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard selections for MLS All-Star Game 2015 make perfect sense". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on July 18, 2015. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  8. ↑ Mendola, Nicholas (July 30, 2018). "Zlatan suspended one match for skipping MLS All Star Game". NBC Sports. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  9. ↑ "MLS announces 2014 MLS All-Star Game roster". US Soccer Players. July 21, 2014. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  10. ↑ "New MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by Target" (Press release). Major League Soccer. July 1, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  11. ↑ "MLS brings back the skills challenge". US Soccer Players. July 30, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  12. ↑ "MLS All-Star Game, Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup canceled for 2020" (Press release). Major League Soccer. May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Columbus to host 2024 MLS All-Star Game". MLSsoccer.com. June 28, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  14. ↑ Elias Sports Bureau, Stats Perform (January 2023). "2023 Fact and Record Book". Major League Soccer. pp. 161–167. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  15. ↑ "How the MLS All-Star Game works". Arsenal F.C. March 21, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  16. ↑ "MLS All-Star Game, Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup canceled for 2020". MLSsoccer.com. May 20, 2020. Archived from the original on November 23, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Matt Turner named MLS All-Star Game MVP pres. by Target after PK heroics". MLSsoccer.com. August 26, 2021. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Dayne St. Clair Named MVP at the 2022 MLS All-Star Game". Canada Soccer. August 10, 2022. Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Arsenal F.C. Defeats MLS All-Stars in the 2023 MLS All-Star Game". MLSsoccer.com. July 20, 2023. Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  20. ↑ "MLS Season Pass Will Provide Enhanced Coverage for the 2023 MLS All-Star Game and All-Star Skills Challenge vs. Arsenal FC at Audi Field in Washington, DC" (Press release). Major League Soccer. July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  21. ↑ Reineking, Jim (July 18, 2023). "MLS All-Star Game vs. Arsenal: Rosters, game time, how to watch on live stream". USA Today. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  22. ↑ Yoder, Matt (July 31, 2015). "MLS All-Star Game takes a big hit on Fox Sports 1". Awful Announcing.
  23. ↑ Nwulu, Mac (July 25, 2016). "ESPN Presents the 2016 MLS All-Star Game". ESPN Press Room.
  24. ↑ Nwulu, Mac (July 26, 2018). "ESPN Presents 2018 MLS All-Star Game from Atlanta". ESPN Press Room.
  25. ↑ "MLS All-Stars Mic'd Up for Live In-Game Broadcast". Fox Sports. July 31, 2019.
  26. ↑ "MLS announces Atletico Madrid as opponent for 2019 MLS All-Star Game". www.mlssoccer.com.
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