The Major League Soccer All-Star Game has been an annual staple on the North American calendar for decades.
First played in 1996, the league has held various iterations of the match to showcase the best players MLS has to offer that season.
In the past, the match occasionally featured a more traditional American All-Star format — East vs. West, with teams made up of players from each conference. In recent seasons the game has seen a single MLS All-Star team take on a high-profile opponent from abroad.
The likes of Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Chelsea, Celtic, Fulham, West Ham, Tottenham, Atletico Madrid, have graced the All-Star Game in recent years. This year, with Premier League giants Arsenal set to play challenger for the second time, The Sporting News brings you all you need to know for the 2023 edition of the MLS midseason showcase.
LIVE BLOG: Follow the action from MLS vs Arsenal from Audi Field
MLS All Stars vs Arsenal live stream, TV channel
- Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
- TV channel: None
- Live stream: FREE on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
The MLS All-Star Game will be played on Wednesday, July 19, with a kickoff time of 8:30 p.m. ET.
The match will be broadcast around the world exclusively and for FREE on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, as part of the league's exclusive media rights deal with the media giant.
Apple regularly selects a few games per week to stream for free for those without a subscription to MLS Season Pass, and the MLS All-Star Game will be getting the same treatment.
MORE: Subscribe to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV for half the price
| TV channel | Streaming | |
|---|---|---|
| USA | — | MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (FREE) |
| Canada | — | MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (FREE) |
| UK | — | MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (FREE) |
| Australia | — | MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (FREE) |
| New Zealand | — | MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (FREE) |
| India | — | MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (FREE) |
| Hong Kong | — | MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (FREE) |
| Singapore | — | MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (FREE) |
| Malaysia | — | MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (FREE) |
MORE: How last year's MLS All-Star Game went
Where is the 2023 MLS All Star Game vs Arsenal?
The 2023 MLS All-Star Game will take place at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
The brand new soccer-specific stadium opened in 2018, and has been the home of MLS club D.C. United since that season, as well as NWSL side Washington Spirit.
The venue has a capacity of around 20,000 fans, and has hosted U.S. men's national team games, as well as the 2022 NWSL championship game.
MORE: Beginner's guide to Messi's new MLS club Inter Miami
MLS vs Arsenal lineups
Major League Soccer's roster features players from over 15 nations appearing on the list. There are nine Americans, four Argentines (including World Cup winner Thiago Almada), and MLS top scorer Hany Mukhtar from Germany. Inter Miami's Lionel Messi is not an All-Star despite officially signing with the league four days before.
D.C. United goalkeeper Tyler Miller was Wayne Rooney's coach's selection on the roster, while veteran striker Kei Kamara was named to the squad as an MLS commissioner's pick.
MLS lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Roman Burki (GK) — 24-Ryan Hollingshead, 3-Jakob Glesnes, 25-Walker Zimmerman, 31-Alvaro Barreal — 6-Riqui Puig, 8-Jose Martinez, 10-Hany Mukhtar — 99-Denis Bouanga, 20-Christian Benteke, 11-Luciano Acosta
MLS subs (18): 28-Tyler Miller (GK), 12-Djordje Petrovic (GK), 17-Jon Gallagher, 21-Matt Miazga, 26-Tim Parker, 47-John Tolkin, Thiago Almada, 29-Mathieu Choiniere, 16-Hector Herrera, 22-Carles Gil, 5-Aidan Morris, 30-Lucas Zelarayan, 19-Cristian Espinoza, 7-Giorgos Giakoumakis, 38-Kei Kamara, 23-Thiago Almada, 9-Jesus Ferreira, 13-Jordan Morris
MORE: MLS all-time attendance records
We could see the debut of Declan Rice with the Gunners after he officially signed on July 15. It will have to be off the bench after he was not included in the starting XI. Mohamed Elneny, Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe, and Oleksandr Zinchenko are not on the roster.
American defender Auston Trusty is on the roster, but U.S. national team goalkeeper Matt Turner is not, as he is away on vacation following his recent participation in the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup. U.S. international striker Folarin Balogun is also in the squad, as rumors swirl regarding whether he will leave this summer for a new club or fight for a place at the top of the Arsenal attack.
Arsenal lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Aaron Ramsdale (GK) — 4-Ben White, 2-William Saliba, 6-Gabriel, 15-Jakub Kiwior — 19-Leandro Trossard, 20-Jorginho, 21-Fabio Vieira — 7-Bukayo Saka, 14-Eddie Nketiah, 9-Gabriel Jesus
Arsenal subs (14): 13-Alex Runarsson (GK), 31-Karl Hein (GK), 16-Rob Holding, 12-Jurrien Timber, 3-Kieran Tierney, 18-Takehiro Tomiyasu, 32-Auston Trusty, 45-Amario Cozier-Duberry, 29-Kai Havertz, 8-Martin Odegaard, 41-Declan Rice, 26-Folarin Balogun, 27-Marquinhos, 11-Gabriel Martinelli
MORE: Arsenal preseason fixtures | Arsenal squad for 2023/24 season
Who will coach the 2023 MLS All Star Game?
The head coach of the MLS All Star team for the 2023 Game will be D.C. United manager Wayne Rooney, who was selected as the boss of the host team in the nation's capital.
Rooney's role as head coach in the match will make him the first person to serve as head coach, player, and opposing player in MLS All-Star Game history. He played for the MLS All-Stars in 2019 while playing for D.C. United, and he played against the MLS All-Stars in 2011 as a member of Manchester United.
As manager of D.C. United, Rooney has the club occupying the last playoff spot in ninth place in the MLS table as of the end of June. However, they hold just a two-point lead over 10th-placed Charlotte FC.
Rooney will coach against Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta who will be in charge as his Gunners gear up for the 2023/24 Premier League season.
MORE: All the trophies that Lionel Messi can win
2023 MLS All Star Game jersey, kit
Major League Soccer released the kit for the 2023 All Star Game at the same time as they released the roster on June 27.
The kit, put together by the league's kit-maker Adidas, features the logo of main All-Star Game sponsor Target. It's predominantly black, with a sunburst style design in the middle underneath the sponsor logo.
MLS also released a special match ball for the game, which is made via a collaboration with Marvel and features characters like The Hulk, Captain America, and other Avengers heroes.
A fit check suited for All-Stars:
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 27, 2023
The 2023 jersey for the #MLSAllStar Game pres. by @Target. 🌟
