This season’s MLS All-Star Game will include a match against Liga MX’s top teams for the third time in the past four years of a league exhibition match, MLS announced Monday.
Scheduled for July 24 at Columbus, Ohio’s Lower.com Stadium, this year’s MLS All-Star Game marks a return to the MLS vs. League format. Liga MX after hosting Arsenal in 2023. MLS has previously faced Liga MX’s All-Stars on two other occasions (2021, 2022).
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“We are very pleased, Liga MX is a close partner of ours. We have been working with them on a number of fronts, including the League Cup, but at the heart of it, the final two All-Star matches against Liga MX are scheduled to take place,” said Camilo Durana, Executive Vice President of Real Estate and Events at Liga MX. Major League Soccer, to ESPN: “We’re facing a really big challenge for intensity and competition on the field, which is what we want and what our fans want.”
“To bring them back, it gives us a format that has been incredibly successful; [and] Provided some intense procedures. We are happy to welcome back Liga MX.”
MLS is undefeated against Liga MX after recording victories against them in the 2021 and 2022 MLS All-Star Games. In recent years, both leagues have teamed up not only through the All-Star Game and the League Cup, but also through the Championship Cup.
“We’ve built a great partnership with Liga MX. And off the pitch, we share best practices, both commercially and how to develop coaches, young players and a variety of other fronts. We’ve also built great new leagues as the Cup is about showcasing the great talent and stars we have in North America.” “
Regarding the possibility of facing other leagues or clubs or returning to the previous East vs. West format, Durana noted that the match against Liga MX was the most attractive of the MLS All-Star Game.
“We reviewed a variety of formats and [have had] “A lot of controversy and discussion,” the EVP of MLS said. “Given again the momentum of the League Cup and the energy it has created for both leagues, the idea of playing in this format, MLS versus Liga MX the week before the start of the league. [2024 edition of] The League Cup was a great way, we thought, to launch that tournament as well.”
Looking to the future, Durana also hinted that given the success of the League Cup, future editions of the MLS All-Star Game could also continue to feature Liga MX.
“It’s a great relationship for us. The results we’ve seen from the League Cup, from coming and watching and [a] “From a public awareness standpoint, it was great for us.”
Days after the All-Star Game, this summer’s League Cup kicks off on July 26. For the second year in a row, the “World Cup-style” League Cup tournament will feature all clubs from both Liga MX and MLS. Later this year, MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew will host the 2023-24 Liga MX winners in the Campeones Cup.
The MLB roster for the All-Star Game will be determined by fan votes for 12 players, All-Star coach Wilfred Nancy’s selection of 12 players, plus two additional names chosen by MLB Commissioner Don Garber. Details regarding the 26-man roster for Liga MX have yet to be announced.
Along with the All-Star Game, there will also be a Skills Challenge scheduled to take place a day earlier on July 23. Each of the two leagues achieves one win in the Skills Challenge.
