MLS and the Liga MX All Stars battled it out in Minnesota Wednesday night, but Don Garber admitted at halftime that next year might be different.
Speaking to ESPN at halftime, Garber admitted that with MLS ramping up its relationship with Liga MX, there may be less of a need to play a Liga MX All Star team next year when the event comes to the District of Columbia.
“We have done such a really focused, strategic partnership with Liga MX, trying to build CONCACAF into being one of the dominant confederations in the world, not just really in our region,” said Garber, who highlighted the massive crowds at SoFi Stadium for the two Leagues Cup showcase matches held there last week, which saw LAFC and Club América play to a scoreless draw and the LA Galaxy beat Chivas 2-0.
Those showcase games took the place of a full Leagues Cup, but in 2023 the plan remains to pause for a full month and involve every club from both leagues.
“So you’re going to see the launch of that in (2023). It’s going to be, just transcending what anybody ever expected,” said Garber when asked whether the Leagues Cup meant a change in All Star Game format was coming. “I’m not sure we need that for our All Star Game. You’ve got Campeones Cup coming up in September in New York City. So we’ll see what next year in Washington, DC looks like when D.C. United hosts, but you know, I’m not quite sure.”
The MLS All Star Game has been through numerous formats over the years, with an East vs. West format being favored for most of the league’s early years before eventually being replaced by, in most years, a match against a European giant. 2021 was the first year MLS faced a Liga MX All Star team, winning on penalties.
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