Get to Know Your MLS All-Stars | OneFootball

The current iteration of the MLS All-Star match is a bizarre thing. The name itself is a misnomer, as the 26 MLS all-stars do not compete against each other, as they have in previous years. Instead, they play an all-star selection of Liga MX players. In effect, it’s another flavor of inter-league competitions such as Leagues Cup or the Campeones Cup.

Match Details

Wednesday, July 29Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte NCKickoff: 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PTThe match will be streamed live on AppleTV (free for subscribers)

The Roster

Like previous years, the MLS all-star squad is a mix of players voted in by fans (11), selected by the head coach (13), or chosen by the MLS commissioner Don Garber (2).

Since 2021, the head coach of the franchise where the match is held is the all-star team gaffer as well. So in 2026 this is Dean Smith, manager of Charlotte FC.

Voted in Players – Defense

Brian Schwake (Goalkeeper) – Nashville SCSchwake’s selection is a no-brainer. Since replacing Joe Willis in Nashville, he’s anchored the goal for the league’s #1 team. Nashville has the lowest average goals conceded per game (0.7 – no other team is lower than 1.0), and Schwake has 8 clean sheets (second highest). 

Anthony Markanich (Defender) – Minnesota United FCIt’s a debut turn for Markanich in this all-star match. He is perhaps one of the most lethal attack-minded defender in MLS, having scored a baker’s dozen goals in a season and a half for the Loons.

Andy Nájar (Defender) – Nashville SCThis is Nájar’s second-straight all-star selection. The pacey wingback also has 5 assists this year to add to his defensive bonafides.

Tim Ream (Defender) – Charlotte FCHe’s a USMNT icon, though there are arguably many better choices the fans could’ve made. Of course, even had he NOT been voted in, his coach Dean Smith would have picked him. He was a shoe-in for this year.

Voted in Players – Attack

Sebastian Berhalter (Midfielder) – Vancouver Whitecaps FCBerhalter is back for his second consecutive selection. He won Best XI honors last season and already has 6g/7a for Vancouver to date. Oh, and he hit a banger in the World Cup for the USMNT as well.

Zavier Gozo (Midfielder) – Real Salt LakeEnjoy watching this youngster while you can, because he’s likely to get plucked soon by some big-name club from outside the U.S. The homegrown RSL phenomenon already has 6g/5a this season, and becomes the second teenager to be voted into the event (Obed Vargas was the first).

Hany Mukhtar (Midfielder) – Nashville SCHe was league MVP in 2022, and got his fifth all-star selection. 

Son Heung-Min (Forward) – LAFCNot to beat up on poor Son, but his selection is definitely not based on goal-scoring form. Sure, his eight assists leads the league (and is tied with fellow all-star Evander), and his 89.5% pass accuracy is unreal, but he went the entire first half of the season without a goal. However, since returning from the World Cup he has scored in all three of LAFC’s matches.

Vote-In No Shows

I can count as well as you, and that list above does not add up to 11. That’s because three players originally voted in will not attend. Unlike last year, when Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul were both suspended for a game by refusing to attend, this year they were allowed to not play. The reason: both are still under a “rest period” after playing eight World Cup matches. Hugo Cuypers, the current MLS goal scoring champ, was also excused on account of his trade last week to Liga MX’s Monterrey.  

Messi was replaced by Yannick Bright, another Inter Miami attacking midfielder. De Paul was replaced by defensive midfielder (and his equal in the sh&^housery department) Andrés Cubas of Vancouver Whitecaps. Cuypers was replaced by Chicago’s #2 contributor Philip Zinckernagel (5g/7a). It’s also his second-straight all-star nod.

Coach’s Selections

Goalkeepers

Maxime Crépeau (Orlando City) and Matt Freese (New York City) were both starting keepers for their respective national teams in the World Cup (Canada and USA). Crépeau is third in total saves of any MLS keeper (68), but he’s faced more shots and Orlando is a literal sieve in defense, having conceded a league-high 44. Freese was selected because of the World Cup veneer, though to be fair he’s higher than most on total saves (58).

Defenders

Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew) is back for a second consecutive time. The wingback also played with the USMNT this summer.

Lucas Herrington (Colorado Rapids) is only nineteen years old, and has a pair of World Cup starts for Australia under his belt. He also missed a penalty kick in their shootout loss to Egypt. No way an all-star appearance will phase him.

Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew) won global acclaim for his stalwart defending for Cape Verde this summer. The plucky Blue Sharks won hearts and nearly toppled Argentina, but he’s solid in club play too, as evinced by his 2024 Defender of the Year award. 

Daniel Munie (San Jose Earthquakes) is 26-years old and a big reason why the San Jose Earthquakes aren’t the laughingstock of MLS right now. He’s also got 3g/1a, not bad for a center back.

Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders FC). Seattle has one of the best defenses in MLS. In fact, 5 of their 20 total goals conceded occurred in a single match; otherwise they have 5 clean sheets. Ragen is a big part of that.

Midfielders

Pep Biel & Ashley Westwood (Charlotte FC) It’s natural for a coach to select players he knows, but these two are no charity selections. Westwood is the Charlotte captain and has been a mainstay for the Queen City since joining in 2023. Biel is quite simply the best no.10 in MLS not named Messi, with 8g/7a to prove it. The fact this is his first all-star summons is shocking.

Evander (FC Cincinnati). The Brazilian attacking midfield has two seasons with double-digit goals and assists, and is on track for a three-peat. ‘Nuff said.

Carles Gil (New England Revolution). The veteran player has single-handedly kept the Revs relevant. Now in his seventh season, this is his fifth all-star nod. 

Thomas Müller (Vancouver Whitecaps FC). Müller is a verifiable legend, but his selection here is no sinecure. He has 12g/3a in 25 appearances for the Whitecaps.

Forwards

Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC) was a breakout player last season, with 40 total goal contributions (23g/17a). This season isn’t quite as strong, but still an impressive 6g/7a.

Guilherme (Houston Dynamo FC) doesn’t even have a full MLS season under his belt, but he’s leading Dynamo in both goals (9) and assists (7). That smells like an all-star to me.

Petar Musa (FC Dallas) is getting his second straight all-star call up, this time after rocketing to the upper echelons of goal scoring (13g/2a).

Sam Surridge (Nashville SC) is a beast. He’s on course to beat last season’s 25 goal tally, having scored 10 in 11 games so far. All he has to do is stay healthy.

Commissioner’s Selections

Richie Laryea (Defender) – Toronto FC. Garber is clearly pandering to a Canadian audience here, trying to boost viewership. Just kidding. Laryea is a great player, and deserving of his first-time all-star call up.

Julian Hall (Forward) – Red Bull New York. File this selection under “Duh”. Hall is the hottest thing to his MLS since Messi (and is half the age). He’s got 9g/3a in 17 games (he’s also 17 years old). Much like Zavier Gozo, enjoy watching him in MLS while you can.