MLS All-Star Game in Columbus to feature Mexican league all-stars
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The 2024 MLS All-Star Game at Lower.com Field in Downtown Columbus is approaching and the league has chosen its format.
MLS announced that the 28th All-Star Game on July 24 at 8 p.m. will feature a match between the MLS All-Stars and the best of Liga MX, the top division in Mexico. On July 23, players on each team will compete in the Skills Challenge at Lower.com Field at 7:30 p.m.
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This will mark the third time in four years the All-Star Game format features a team of MLS players against a team of Liga MX players. In two previous matches, MLS has beaten Liga MX each time. The game will also serve as a precursor for this summer’s Leagues Cup tournament, which starts July 26 and features each MLS and Liga MX club.
12 of the players on the MLS team will be chosen by Columbus Crew coach Wilfried Nancy. Tickets for the All-Star Game and Skills Challenge go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m. Click here to learn more about ticket information.
After more than a decade of MLS having its best players face a European club, the league introduced the MLS vs. Liga MX format in 2021 in Los Angeles. The two faced each other again in 2022 in Minnesota before the format switched back last year when Arsenal was the opponent in D.C.
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2024 marks the third time Columbus has hosted the MLS All-Star Game with the last one coming 19 years ago. At Historic Crew Stadium, the league introduced its most used format with the MLS’ best players facing a European club with English Premier League side Fulham coming to Columbus. MLS’ All-Stars won the match 4-1.
The first time Historic Crew Stadium hosted the All-Star Game was in 2000 back when the league did an East vs. West format. The end-to-end match concluded with a 9-4 victory for the East All-Stars in what is still the highest scoring All-Star Game in MLS history.
In less than three years, Lower.com Field has already hosted marquee games including two finals the Crew won: The 2021 Campeones Cup and the 2023 MLS Cup Final. It also has hosted two United States men’s national team World Cup qualifying matches, both won by the Americans.
This year, Lower.com Field will welcome back the United States women’s national team along with Canada, Brazil, and Japan for the SheBelieves Cup final and third-place match on April 9. Three days after the All-Star Game, the Crew will play a friendly against EPL club Aston Villa before playing in the Leagues Cup tournament.
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