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The 2026 MLS All-Star Game will pit the best players from MLS against the best from Liga MX in Charlotte. The 2026 MLS All-Star Game takes place this Wednesday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, pitting the league’s best against a Liga MX all-star squad in a rivalry that continues to grow every year. This year’s edition arrives with plenty of storylines, from young breakout talents to World Cup-tested veterans on both sides of the border. One notable absence looms over the occasion: Lionel Messi won’t be suiting up for MLS. The Inter Miami captain is still working through his mandated rest period following Argentina’s run to the World Cup final. His teammate Rodrigo De Paul finds himself in the same situation, also sidelined for the exhibition as part of that same post-tournament recovery window. Neither player will face any sanction over their absence, since the league was informed of their unavailability well in advance and both were left off the roster from the start. Their absence opens the door for other players to headline the occasion, and MLS has no shortage of star power to lean on. Son Heung-Min, Thomas Muller, and a mix of proven MLS regulars and rising prospects make up a 29-player squad selected through a combination of coach’s picks, commissioner’s selections, and fan voting. Our best. Their best. 🥊Watch the MLS All-Stars vs. Liga MX All-Stars at 8pm ET on Apple TV: https://t.co/9ojkoIf5TD pic.twitter.com/R0WmikKJT1— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 29, 2026 On the Liga MX side, the Mexican league has put together a 24-player roster under coach Antonio Mohamed, the reigning Coach of the Year, featuring five players who took part in the World Cup and a dozen Liga MX champions. MLS All-Star roster Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau (Orlando City), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC). Defenders: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Lucas Herrington (Colorado Rapids), Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Anthony Markanich (Minnesota United), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew), Daniel Munie (San Jose Earthquakes), Andy Najar (Nashville SC), Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC). Midfielders: Pep Biel (Charlotte FC), Yannick Bright (Inter Miami), Andres Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps), Evander (FC Cincinnati), Carles Gil (New England Revolution), Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC), Thomas Muller (Vancouver Whitecaps), Ashley Westwood (Charlotte FC). Forwards: Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), Guilherme (Houston Dynamo), Julian Hall (New York Red Bulls), Son Heung-Min (LAFC), Petar Musa (FC Dallas), Sam Surridge (Nashville SC), Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire). Coach: Dean Smith (Charlotte FC). Liga MX All-Star roster Goalkeepers: Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna), Carlos Moreno (Pachuca). Defenders: Bruno Mendez (Toluca), Federico Pereira (Toluca), Jesus Gallardo (Toluca), Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Omar Campos (Cruz Azul), Willer Ditta (Cruz Azul), Israel Reyes (America), Jesus Garza (Tigres), Luis Rey (Guadalajara), Nathan Silva (Pumas). Midfielders: Alexei Dominguez (Pachuca), Elias Montiel (Pachuca), Carlos Rodriguez (Cruz Azul), Jose Paradela (Cruz Azul), Fernando Gorriaran (Tigres), Juan Brunetta (Tigres), Franco Romero (Toluca), Iker Fimbres (Monterrey), Kevin Castaneda (Guadalajara). Forwards: Javier Ruiz (Necaxa), Robert Morales (Pumas), Salomon Rondon (Pachuca). Coach: Antonio Mohamed (Toluca).
Gilberto Mora and Keylor Navas have joined the list of Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul as the biggest absences for the MLS vs. Liga MX All-Star Game. The MLS vs. Liga MX All-Star Game is right around the corner, promising a marquee showcase featuring the premier talent from both the American and Mexican top flights. However, the event has taken another star-power hit, as Gilberto Mora and Keylor Navas have added their names to a growing list of high-profile absentees that already includes Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul. Liga MX released its preliminary roster weeks ago with both Navas and Mora included on the squad. However, in an official roster update released Monday, July 27, the league confirmed several notable changes, officially scratching the Costa Rican icon and the Mexican prodigy from the final lineup. In Keylor Navas‘ case, the Pumas UNAM goalkeeper will not travel to Charlotte after suffering a minor setback with a knee issue sustained at the start of the Apertura 2026 campaign. While the injury is not considered severe, the Mexico City side opted against risking their veteran star with both the Liga MX season and the Leagues Cup kicking into high gear. Club Pachuca’s Carlos Moreno has been called up as his replacement. As for Gilberto Mora, an official reason for his omission has not been disclosed by either Liga MX or his club, Club Tijuana. Still, the 17-year-old rising star is continuing his ramp-up period with Xolos following a busy World Cup campaign with the Mexican national team and a subsequent vacation, prioritizing long-term fitness ahead of the upcoming season. Modificaciones en el Equipo de Estrellas que participará en el MLS All-Star Game 2026. 📰 pic.twitter.com/ub7KEa3eG7— Liga BBVA MX (@LigaBBVAMX) July 27, 2026 Inter Miami duo also set to miss All-Star clash The annual summer showcase has built immense momentum in recent years thanks to both leagues pulling in elite, world-class talent. However, Liga MX will now be without Mora, Navas, and Armando “La Hormiga” González, while MLS will be missing its biggest draw in Lionel Messi alongside his Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul. The Inter Miami duo received special medical permission to rest following an grueling 2026 World Cup run that culminated in the July 19 final. With neither Messi nor De Paul having re-joined the Herons for full training yet, both MLS stars will sit out Wednesday’s midsummer exhibition at Bank of America Stadium, home of Charlotte FC (8 p.m. ET). Liga MX All-Star Roster Goalkeepers: Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna) and Carlos Moreno (Pachuca).Defenders: Bruno Méndez (Toluca), Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Federico Pereira (Toluca), Israel Reyes (América), Jesús Gallardo (Toluca), Jesús Garza (Tigres UANL), Luis Rey (Guadalajara), Nathan Silva (Pumas UNAM), Omar Campos (Cruz Azul), and Willer Ditta (Cruz Azul).Midfielders: Alexei Domínguez (Pachuca), Carlos Rodríguez (Cruz Azul), Elías Montiel (Pachuca), Fernando Gorriarán (Tigres UANL), Franco Romero (Toluca), Iker Fimbres (Monterrey), José Paradela (Cruz Azul), Juan Brunetta (Tigres UANL), and Kevin Castañeda (Guadalajara).Forwards: Javier Ruíz (Necaxa), Robert Morales (Pumas UNAM), and Salomón Rondón (Pachuca).Head coach: Antonio Mohamed. MLS All-Star Roster Goalkeepers: Maxime Crépeau (Orlando City), Matt Freese (New York City), and Brian Schwake (Nashville SC).Defenders: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Lucas Herrington (Colorado Rapids), Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Anthony Markanich (Minnesota United), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew), Daniel Munie (San Jose Earthquakes), Andy Najar (Nashville SC), Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders), and Tim Ream (Charlotte FC)Midfielders: Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Pep Biel (Charlotte FC), Yannick Bright (Inter Miami), Andrés Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps), Evander (FC Cincinnati), Carles Gil (New England Revolution), Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC), Thomas Muller (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), and Ashley Westwood (
Sebastian Caceres is one of the multiple stars in the 2026 World Cup that's using a protective mask, in this case in the Uruguay game against Cape Verde. Sebastian Caceres will anchor the backline for Uruguay on Sunday as the primary center-back tasked with neutralizing Cape Verde’s attack during this highly anticipated 2026 World Cup Group H clash at Hard Rock Stadium. However, much like a handful of other prominent stars competing in North America, the defender has drawn some buzz for playing through the tournament with a specialized protective face mask. Caceres is required to wear the custom facial armor due to a severe injury he sustained in May while playing for Liga MX Club America during the domestic playoff quarterfinals. Contesting a 50-50 aerial ball against Pumas UNAM, the center-back was forced to exit the match in the 61st minute, ultimately sidelining him for the second leg as America was eliminated from the tournament. Club America medical staff issued an emergency diagnostic update shortly after the match, revealing that the collision had resulted in a concussion, a fractured zygomatic arch, and direct ocular trauma. The multi-layered facial fracture required immediate intervention from specialists, throwing his availability into serious doubt just as Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa was finalizing his preliminary World Cup roster. Fortunately, following an intensive, specialized rehabilitation process, Caceres managed to regain full physical fitness just in time to join the national team camp in the United States. To safely take the pitch, he must wear a protective mask featuring an extended right-cheek guard, a necessary precaution designed to stabilize the underlying bone structure and shield the healing area from any secondary impacts. Sebastian Caceres #3 of Uruguay reacts after the 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia. Caceres, a cornerstone in Bielsa’s Uruguay Despite making his senior international debut in late 2022 and subsequently missing out on the final roster cut for Qatar, Caceres has rapidly transformed into one of Bielsa’s most trusted defensive cornerstones. The 26-year-old defender has already logged 24 career appearances for La Celeste, demonstrating exceptional positional awareness and gritty tactical discipline even though he has yet to record his first international goal. With Ronald Araujo sidelined from peak physical form and long-time captain Jose Maria Gimenez surprisingly dropped to the bench for the tournament opener against Saudi Arabia, Caceres has shouldered immense defensive responsibility. Partnering alongside Napoli’s versatile defender Mathias Olivera, the masked center back will feature his second World Cup game against Cape Verde.
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