The 2025 MLS All-Star Game brought together Major League Soccer best and Liga MX’s best in an epic showdown at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. The encounter in the current year was the fourth annual MLS vs Liga MX all-star game showdown and had some of each league’s biggest stars with unprecedented viewing attention from audiences across North America.
Kickoff Time and Venue
The match began at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT / 6 p.m. PT on the lights of Q2 Stadium, which is home to Austin FC. It is now a soccer fortress with its lively supporters and often sold-out matches. To stage the All-Star Game there only added to the fans’ palpable enthusiasm throughout the event.
Star-Studded Rosters
1. MLS All-Stars
Trained by FC Dallas coach Nico Estévez, the MLS All-Stars squad was made up of 29 players from 15 clubs. The XI starters used a 4-3-3 formation and featured the best players, such as:
1. Brad Stuver (Austin FC) as goalkeeper
2. Kai Wagner, Tristan Blackmon, Michael Boxall, and Andy Najar at defense
3. Evander (captain), Anders Dreyer, and Sebastian Berhalter at midfield
4. Denis Bouanga, Sam Surridge, and Chucky Lozano at attack
Despite being fan-voted onto the squad, Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba didn’t make it to the starting lineup. Their omission generated rumors but allowed up-and-coming stars and in-form players to shine.
2. Liga MX All-Stars
Liga MX was hosted by 23 players from 11 teams, led by coach André Jardine. Some of the notable names included:
1. Sergio Ramos, the Spanish defensive legend now with CF Monterrey
2. Juan Brunetta, a talented playmaking midfielder for Tigres
3. Sergio Canales, a technical wizard from Monterrey
4. Goalkeeper Luis Malagón and defender Willer Ditta, who offered defensive depth
The Liga MX team merged veteran international stars with a number of Mexico’s best prospects, including 16-year-old Gilberto Mora, who created a great combination.
Skills Challenge and Fan Fest
Throughout the buildup to the match, supporters were presented with a full rundown of All-Star Week events, including the always-popular Skills Challenge. That little game encompassed such competitions as shooting, passing accuracy, and the always-entertaining “Goalie Wars.” The Skills Challenge was captured by the MLS side, building up for the forthcoming match.
Fan fests, live concerts, soccer clinics, and autograph sessions were staged throughout Austin on July 19–23, filling the air with a carnival-like soccer atmosphere and drawing in fans of all ages.
How to Watch
American fans had many options for watching the All-Star Game, including:
1. Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass, which streams the game for free
2. Major cable companies like DirecTV and Comcast Xfinity
3. Audio play-by-play on SiriusXM FC and Westwood One Sports
In Mexico, the match was available to fans through the same MLS streaming platform or on local sports networks.
Game Story and Insights
This season’s meeting had more at stake as both leagues were eager to prove superiority. Even though MLS had won two of the previous three iterations, Liga MX won the previous one in 2024 by a dominant 4-1 margin. The 2025 meeting was revenge and reputation on the line.
Though Messi’s absence was disappointing to some, players like Evander, Dreyer, and Bouanga stepped up to lead the charge for MLS. Liga MX’s experienced squad brought discipline and class, particularly through the presence of Ramos and Canales.
Tactically, each side played to their advantage, with MLS playing pace and press, and Liga MX playing control and build-up in an organized manner. The second half saw a flurry of substitutions that introduced new energy and created space.
Ticket Sales and Atmosphere
With rumors flying about Messi playing, ticket prices inflated, from $193 to over $800 on the resale market. Even without Messi, Q2 Stadium brought a charged energy with filled seats, drums, chants, and do-it-yourself signs. Local bars and viewing parties around Austin—from Scholz Garten to B.D. Riley’s—were packed with supporters following the play.
Odds and Predictions
Before the match, Liga MX was slightly favored by bookies, and the over/under had been set at 3.5 goals. Pundits were predicting a free-flowing, goal-fest, especially in the second half when rotations started to come into play and defenses started weakening.
Broader Significance
The All-Star Game is still a cultural bridge between soccer in Mexico and the U.S. It’s not only competition but cooperation, bringing leagues, fans, and traditions together. The 2025 one was all about MLS’s growing international stature while affirming Liga MX’s deep well of talent.
End Notes: MLS vs Liga MX All-Star Game
The 2025 MLS vs Liga MX All-Star Game was not only a show—it was a celebration of the evolution of North American soccer. Even without international superstar Messi, the game thrilled fans with drama, talent, and intensity. It further solidified the All-Star format as a must-see annual event and proved Austin’s emergence as a premier soccer city.
The All-Star Game does not necessarily decide a champion. Nevertheless, it heightens the profile of the sport and produces moments that will be remembered forever, reminding us that soccer is not merely about scoring goals, but about everyone’s mutual love of the game.