Major League Soccer (MLS) officially unveiled the format for the 2026 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T, a spectacle that will bring together some of the league’s top players for an evening dedicated to precision, power, and creativity on the field.
The event will take place on July 28 at 7:30 p.m. (ET) at Truist Field in Charlotte, North Carolina, as part of the lead-up to the 2026 MLS All-Star Game, and will be streamed live on Apple TV to more than 100 countries and regions.
A New Format to Determine the Best
The main new feature of this edition will be a change to the competition format. Unlike in previous years, when MLS stars competed directly against Liga MX stars in each event, each challenge will now have an individual champion, rewarding the player with the best performance in each discipline.
However, the rivalry between the two leagues won’t disappear entirely. The event will conclude with a Relay Challenge, a team competition in which MLS and Liga MX stars will face off once again in an exciting relay format.
The Five Events of the Skills Challenge
The program will include five events designed to test different soccer skills.
All-Star Shooting Challenge
The event will begin with a finishing challenge, where players must hit various targets around the goal for 60 seconds. The participant with the most points will be the winner.
All-Star Passing Challenge
This competition will test passing accuracy. Players will have to complete a circuit by hitting targets placed at different distances on the field. The fastest time will determine the champion.
All-Star Goalie Wars
One of the crowd’s favorite events returns with an exclusive showdown between goalies. The goalies will aim to score goals while defending their own net in a competition of reflexes, power, and accuracy.
All-Star Crossbar Challenge
The classic crossbar challenge is also back. Participants will attempt to hit the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area, demonstrating technique and control with every shot.
MLS vs. Liga MX Relay Challenge
The night will close with a brand-new competition that combines elements from all the previous challenges in a relay circuit to determine which league will claim the Skills Challenge title.
Top players will lead the competition
The event will feature players from ten different MLS teams, as well as representatives from MLS NEXT Pro.
Among the most notable names are:
- Son Heung-min (LAFC)
- Thomas Müller (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
- Tim Ream (Charlotte FC)
- Evander (FC Cincinnati)
- Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
- Petar Musa (FC Dallas)
- Matt Freese (New York City FC)
- Maxime Crépeau (Orlando City SC)
- Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake)
Also competing in the goalkeeper category will be Pedro Cruz, the 2025 Goalie Wars champion with Houston Dynamo 2, and Will Mackay, goalkeeper for Huntsville City FC.
New faces on the scene
Of the players announced, only Evander and Sebastian Berhalter have previous experience in the Skills Challenge.
The rest will be making their debut in this competition, adding an extra element of excitement for fans attending the event in Charlotte.
The inclusion of players from MLS NEXT Pro also reflects the league’s commitment to showcasing its young talent in one of the season’s most important showcases.
All-Star Week is gearing up
The Skills Challenge is part of the traditional MLS All-Star Week, which will culminate on July 29 with the 2026 MLS All-Star Game presented by Chime, where MLS stars will once again face off against a selection of Liga MX stars.
With a revamped format, new dynamics, and a mix of international stars, rising young talents, and special guests, the 2026 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge promises to be one of the most entertaining events of the summer for soccer fans across North America.
