MLS All-Star (United States) 2025/26

The MLS All-Star Game is an annual exhibition match that showcases the league’s top players. Unlike the MLS Cup, which crowns the season champion through a playoff structure, or the U.S. Open Cup, a national knockout tournament, this event carries no competitive stakes. It does not influence league standings or qualification for continental competitions.

The fixture began in 1996 as a showcase for Major League Soccer talent. The initial format featured an intra-league battle between the Eastern and Western conferences. A variation in 1998 pitted MLS USA against MLS World before the current structure was established in 2002. Since then, the match has been a single 90-minute contest between a select MLS squad and an invited guest opponent.

The competing team is assembled through a combination of fan voting, manager nominations, and league commissioner selection. Matches are decided on penalties if the score remains level after regular time, with no extra time played. While early editions featured domestic rivals, the opponent has evolved to include top European clubs and, more recently, the Liga MX All-Stars.

The MLS All-Stars hold a significant advantage in the modern era, recording 13 wins against 10 losses. Arsenal and Manchester United are tied for the most victories by an invited opponent, each securing two wins. The match remains a standalone friendly, distinct from the official championship titles contested within the American soccer pyramid.