Who are MLS All-Stars coming to Charlotte? The list has three from Charlotte FC

MLS announced the remaining selections of the 26-player roster for the Charlotte All-Star Game on Wednesday morning.

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Charlotte FC midfielders Pep Biel and Ashley Westwood were chosen, joining teammate and defender Tim Ream, who had already been named to the starting XI in early June. If any of them feature in the match, they will become the first players in club history to participate in the All-Star Game.

The team’s first-ever selection, Patrick Agyemang, was sold to Derby County of the English Football League Championship circuit before last year’s contest.

After the MLS starting XI — a group that spans global superstars Lionel Messi and Son Heung-Min to United States national teamers Sebastian Berhalter, Matt Freese and Ream — was announced in early June following players, fans and media voting, 13 of the remaining selections were made by Charlotte FC coach Dean Smith, and the other two were chosen by commissioner Don Garber.

Both Biel and Westwood were coach’s selections.

Biel, the Spanish No. 10 who became a permanent Charlotte FC player in January after two previous loan spells, has been the focal point of the team’s attack, scoring seven goals and recording four assists in 2026.

Westwood, Charlotte FC’s captain who lies deep in the midfield as a No. 6, became the club’s all-time assist leader when he tallied his 20th in a match against FC Cincinnati on May 9.

The MLS All-Star team will face Mexico’s LIGA MX All-Stars at Bank of America Stadium on July 29th. Some players will also compete in the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge at Truist Field on July 28th.

The full roster:

GOALKEEPERS (3)

Maxime Crépeau (Orlando City SC; Coach’s Selection), Matt Freese (New York City FC; Coach’s Selection), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC; Voted In)

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DEFENDERS (10)

Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew; coach’s selection), Lucas Herrington (Colorado Rapids; coach’s selection), Richie Laryea (Toronto FC; commissioner’s pick), Anthony Markanich (Minnesota United FC; voted in), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire FC; voted in), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew; coach’s selection), Daniel Munie (San Jose Earthquakes; coach’s selection), Andy Najar (Nashville SC; voted in), Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders FC; coach’s selection), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; voted in)

MIDFIELDERS (9)

Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps FC; voted in), Pep Biel (Charlotte FC; coach’s selection), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami CF; coach’s selection), Evander (FC Cincinnati; coach’s selection), Carles Gil (New England Revolution; coach’s selection), Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake; voted in), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC; voted in), Thomas Müller (Vancouver Whitecaps FC; coach’s selection), Ashley Westwood (Charlotte FC; coach’s selection)

FORWARDS (7)

Hugo Cuypers (Chicago Fire FC; voted in), Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC; coach’s selection), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York; commissioner’s pick), Son Heung-Min (LAFC; voted in), Leo Messi (Inter Miami CF; voted Iin), Petar Musa (FC Dallas; coach’s selection), Sam Surridge (Nashville SC; coach’s selection)

The MLS All-Star Game squad includes a total of 13 players from 2026 World Cup teams. One such player, Ream, is returning to the All-Star Game for the first time in 15 years, tied for the largest gap alongside Tim Howard, who featured for the MLS side in 2002 and 2017.

Messi, who is with Argentina at the World Cup, has been selected for the All-Star Game twice before but has skipped both events. In 2024, he did not play because he was dealing with an ankle injury and he didn’t show up in 2025 to rest, the latter of which resulted in a suspension because the league mandates participation in the contest.

With the 2026 World Cup wrapping up shortly before this year’s All-Star Week, it’s unclear whether Messi, picked as a starter, will once again ignore the game.

Mbekezeli Mbokazi, a 20-year-old South African sensation who has emerged as an anchor for the Chicago Fire’s back line, is one of 18 first-time All-Star selections on the squad.

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Fifteen nationalities and continents are represented on the All-Star roster.

This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 11:00 AM.