2024 MLS All-Star Game explained

2024 MLS All-Star Game
Event:2024 Major League Soccer season
Team1:MLS All-Stars
Team1score:1
Team2:Liga MX All-Stars
Team2score:4
Stadium:Lower.com Field
City:Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Man Of The Match1aname:Most Valuable Player
Man Of The Match1a:Juan Brunetta
(Liga MX All-Stars)
Referee:Guido Gonzales Jr. (United States)
Attendance:20,931[1]
Previous:2023
Next:2025

The 2024 Major League Soccer All-Star Game was the 28th annual Major League Soccer All-Star Game, an exhibition soccer match in the United States. It featured all-star squads from Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX of Mexico—the third edition to use the inter-league format. The All-Star Game was played on July 24, 2024, at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio, and won 4–1 by Liga MX. The MLS All-Star Skills Challenge was played the day before at the same venue.

Background

On June 28, 2023, MLS announced that the 2024 MLS All-Star Game would be hosted by the Columbus Crew and played at their home stadium, Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio. The 2005 MLS All-Star Game was hosted by the Crew at their previous stadium.[2] The Liga MX All-Stars, representing the top flight league of Mexico, were announced as the 2024 All-Star Game opponents on March 4, 2024. It is the third MLS All-Star Game to feature an inter-league all-star team; the Liga MX All-Stars had previously played in the 2021 and 2022 editions before MLS switched back to a friendly against a European club for the 2023 game. The All-Star Game was played two days before the start of the 2024 Leagues Cup, an international competition featuring all clubs from MLS and Liga MX.[3]

Pre-match

Roster selection

The MLS All-Star team's 30 players were determined by sixteen selections by host head coach Wilfried Nancy of the Columbus Crew, two players selected by MLS commissioner Don Garber, and twelve selections from an online vote of fans, media personnel, and MLS players. The online vote for players in a 4–1–2–3 formation and one additional slot began on May 29, 2024, and concluded on June 10. Players on the ballot were required to have appeared in at least 50 percent of their club's matches by May 13.[4] Garber selected Houston Dynamo FC midfielder Héctor Herrera and Columbus midfielder Darlington Nagbe.[5]

Real Salt Lake forward Cristian Arango, who was voted onto the roster, was suspended by the league on July 15 for a violation of the MLS anti-harassment policy.[6] Miles Robinson withdrew from the All-Star Game due to his selection for the United States under-23 team at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Real Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna and Colorado Rapids defender Moïse Bombito were announced as replacement coach selections on July 19.[7] Forwards Gabriel Pec of the LA Galaxy and Petar Musa of FC Dallas were added as coach selections on July 21, after the withdrawal of Inter Miami forwards Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, who were both injured during the 2024 Copa América.[8] [9] Luciano Acosta of FC Cincinnati, the reigning league MVP, was named captain of the MLS All-Star Team for the second consecutive year.[10]

André Jardine was selected as the manager of the Liga MX All-Stars after winning the Balón de Oro award for Best Head Coach of the Season. His selection of 14 players from the Balón de Oro finalists and 14 additional players was announced on July 17.[11]

Skills Challenge

The MLS All-Star Skills Challenge was held on July 23 at Lower.com Field and comprise events in five fields: shooting, touches, cross-and-volley, passing, and a crossbar challenge. The rosters include ten all-star players, one former "great" player, and a female players from the National Women's Soccer League and Liga MX Femenil. The MLS roster includes former player Sacha Kljestan and Diana Ordóñez of the Houston Dash; the Liga MX roster includes former player Luis Hernández and Alicia Cervantes of C.D. Guadalajara Femenil. The Liga MX All-Stars won three of the five events during the Skills Challenge.[12] A single-elimination Goalie Wars tournament was also held and featured four MLS Next Pro goalkeepers; Chituru Odunze of Crown Legacy FC won the team's second consecutive Goalie Wars title.[13]

2024 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge results[14]
scope=col Eventscope=col MLS scorescope=col Liga MX score
scope=row style="text-align:left" Shooting96 158
scope=row style="text-align:left" Touch137 71
scope=row style="text-align:left" Cross & Volley45 90
scope=row style="text-align:left" Passing2 wins 1 win
scope=row style="text-align:left" CrossbarLoss Win

Broadcasting

The All-Star Game and Skills Challenge was broadcast globally in English, French, and Spanish on MLS Season Pass, an online streaming platform operated by Apple TV with rights to all MLS matches.[4]

Squads

MLS All-Stars

The initial MLS All-Stars roster was announced on July 1, 2024.[5] The Skills Challenge rosters for both teams were published on July 15.[15] Players from 18 clubs were selected; the most-represented teams on the roster are the Columbus Crew with five players and Inter Miami CF with four players who are all making their All-Star Game debut.[5] [16]

2024 MLS All-Stars roster[17]
scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col Playerscope=col Clubscope=col Selectionscope=col
1 scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" align=left align=left Coach 2nd
26 scope=row align=left align=left align=left Coach 1st
30 scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" [18] align=left align=left Vote 1st
10 scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" align=left align=left Vote 1st
64 scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" align=left align=left Coach 1st
4 scope=row align=left align=left align=left Coach 1st
15 scope=row align=left align=left align=left Vote 1st
22 scope=row align=left align=left align=left Vote 1st
13 scope=row align=left align=left align=left Coach 1st
31 scope=row align=left align=left align=left Coach 1st
23 scope=row align=left align=left align=left Coach 1st
2 scope=row align=left align=left align=left Coach 2nd
11 scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" (c) align=left align=left Vote 3rd
5 scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" align=left align=left Vote 1st
29 scope=row align=left align=left align=left Coach 2nd
19 scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" align=left align=left Coach 1st
25 scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" align=left align=left Coach 1st
16 scope=row align=left align=left align=left Commissioner 2nd
17 scope=row align=left align=left align=left Coach 1st
3 scope=row align=left align=left align=left Coach 1st
27 scope=row align=left align=left align=left Coach 3rd
6 scope=row align=left align=left align=left Commissioner 3rd
7 scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" align=left align=left Vote 2nd
20 scope=row align=left align=left align=left Vote 2nd
8 scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" align=left align=left Coach 1st
99 scope=row align=left align=left align=left Coach 2nd
24 scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" align=left align=left Coach 1st
10 scope=row align=left align=left align=left Vote 1st
scope=row align=left align=left align=left Coach 1st
scope=row align=left align=left align=left Coach 1st
21 scope=row align=left align=left align=left Coach 3rd
9 scope=row align=left align=left align=left Vote 1st

Liga MX All-Stars

The first half of the Liga MX All-Stars roster was announced on June 30, 2024, as part of the Balón de Oro awards. The remaining 16 players were announced on July 15.[19]

2024 Liga MX All-Stars roster
scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col Playerscope=col Club
scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" align=left Club América
scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" align=left Cruz Azul
scope=row align=left align=left Tigres UANL
scope=row align=left align=left Tigres UANL
scope=row align=left align=left Deportivo Toluca
scope=row align=left align=left C.F. Pachuca
scope=row align=left align=left C.D. Guadalajara
scope=row align=left align=left C.D. Guadalajara
scope=row align=left align=left Club Necaxa
scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" align=left Cruz Azul
scope=row align=left align=left Tigres UANL
scope=row align=left align=left Atlético San Luis
scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" align=left C.D. Guadalajara
scope=row align=left align=left C.F. Pachuca
scope=row align=left align=left C.F. Monterrey
scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" align=left Tigres UANL
scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" align=left C.F. Monterrey
scope=row align=left align=left C.F. Pachuca
scope=row align=left align=left Club América
scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" align=left Club América
scope=row align=left align=left Atlético San Luis
scope=row align=left align=left Club América
scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" align=left Club León
scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" align=left Pumas UNAM
scope=row align=left align=left C.F. Pachuca
scope=row align=left align=left C.F. Monterrey
scope=row align=left align=left Cruz Azul
scope=row align=left align=left Tigres UANL
scope=row align=left align=left Pumas UNAM
scope=row style="text-align:left; background:#ddffdd" align=left C.F. Pachuca

Match

Notes and References

  1. News: Gay . Colin . Mac Kay . Brianna . July 24, 2024 . Live updates: Liga MX easily handles MLS in 2024 MLS All-Star Game . . July 24, 2024.
  2. June 28, 2023 . MLS returns the All-Star Game to Columbus for the first time since 2005 . Major League Soccer . July 1, 2024.
  3. News: Hernandez . Cesar . March 4, 2024 . MLS All-Star Game set to host best of Liga MX for third time . . July 1, 2024.
  4. May 29, 2024 . Voting Opens Today for 2024 MLS All-Star Game Presented by Target . Major League Soccer . July 1, 2024.
  5. July 1, 2024 . The League's Brightest Stars, Talented Newcomers, and International Legends Highlight the 2024 MLS All-Star Roster . Major League Soccer . July 1, 2024.
  6. News: July 15, 2024 . Real Salt Lake's Cristian Arango suspended 4 games by MLS . ESPN . July 15, 2024.
  7. News: July 19, 2024 . 2024 MLS All-Star Team Roster . MLSsoccer.com . July 19, 2024.
  8. News: Deen . Safid . July 22, 2024 . Inter Miami stars Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez won't play in MLS All-Star Game due to injury . . July 25, 2024.
  9. News: July 21, 2024 . Gabriel Pec, Petar Musa added to 2024 MLS All-Star Team Roster . MLSsoccer.com . July 21, 2024.
  10. News: July 19, 2024 . FC Cincinnati's Luciano Acosta named 2024 MLS All-Star Game Captain . MLSsoccer.com . July 19, 2024.
  11. News: Vertelney . Seth . July 17, 2024 . Liga MX announces team for MLS All-Star Game . USA Today . Pro Soccer Wire . July 19, 2024.
  12. News: Mac Kay . Brianna . July 23, 2024 . Cucho Hernandez nails bicycle kick during MLS All-Star Skills Challenge at Lower.com Field . The Columbus Dispatch . July 25, 2024.
  13. July 24, 2024 . Crown Legacy FC Goalkeeper Chituru Odunze Wins Goalie Wars at the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge . . July 25, 2024.
  14. July 23, 2024 . LIGA MX Narrowly Edges MLS All-Stars in the 2024 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T . Major League Soccer . July 25, 2024.
  15. News: July 15, 2024 . Rosters for 2024 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T . MLSsoccer.com . July 17, 2024.
  16. News: Becherano . Lizzy . July 1, 2024 . Lionel Messi headlines MLS All-Star roster for first time . ESPN . July 1, 2024.
  17. Web site: July 1, 2024 . 2024 MLS All-Star Roster . Major League Soccer . July 1, 2024.
  18. Web site: Maarten Paes Bisa Bela Timnas Indonesia Usai Direstui FIFA. 18 August 2024. id.
  19. News: July 15, 2024 . LIGA MX roster for 2024 MLS All-Star Game . MLSsoccer.com . July 17, 2024.