Charlotte FC to host MLS All-Star Game in 2026, per report | OneFootball

Major League Soccer is expected to award the 2026 MLS All-Star Game to Charlotte FC on Wednesday at a scheduled press conference with MLS Commissioner Don Garber, according to a report from Axios Charlotte.

The news would mark the third time a major men's pro all-star game is held in the city after the NBA All-Star Game festivities were previously held in Charlotte in 1991 and 2019. It will be the fourth such game held in North Carolina, with the NHL playing its All-Star Game in Raleigh in 2011.

It also confirms there will be an All-Star event despite the World Cup being held in 15 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico in June and July of 2026. Charlotte is not among the World Cup host venues.

Garber has previously said the league will take a full break from competition during the World Cup, as compared to its typical partial hiatus during other summer international tournaments. The All-Star event could potentially double as a restart event to the MLS campaign after the World Cup concludes.

The 2025 MLS All-Star Game will be held next Wednesday at Austin FC's Q2 Stadium.

Charlotte becomes an MLS, El Tri destination

Charlotte will earn All-Star Game hosting rights in its fifth season after beginning MLS play as the league's 28th team in 2022. While sharing Bank of America stadium with the NFL's Carolina Panthers, Charlotte has consistently ranked second in MLS in average attendance behind only Atlanta United, and in the 2025 season, has drawn 31,268 fans per game.

It's unclear whether the event will remain in the MLS vs. Liga MX format of the 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025 editions, but the location may suggest that is the case.

The North Carolina city has a sizable and growing Mexican expat community, and has hosted at least three Mexico national team events in recent years: A 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup doubleheader featuring El Tri, and then friendlies in 2021 and 2023.