Opinion: Time for MLS to graduate from current All-Star format

Image credit: MLS

Tonight, the MLS All-Stars will take on Italian giant Juventus at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The All-Star Game is always a fun and entertaining night for MLS fans celebrating the league’s best players on national television in front of a packed stadium.

Since 2005, the MLS All-Star game has had the “All-Stars vs. Europe” format where MLS takes on some sort of historic European powerhouse such as Manchester United, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, just to name a few.

These games have definitely been successful, as they have generated decent amounts of publicity and — for the most part — the MLS All-Star team has looked respectable. It has a winning record in these games with seven wins and six losses. (Two of those losses were decided via penalties, which is lame.)

This format is a fun concept and I have definitely enjoyed watching these matches throughout the years, but I think it’s time for something new and fresh. Here’s why:

Lose-lose situation

I feel like this format is a bit of a lose-lose situation. Regardless of whichever European club faces the MLS All-Stars, they are going to be in preseason and not regular-season form. Due to it being preseason, not all the usual stars on the European clubs will play, i.e. Ronaldo for Juventus. When MLS loses this game, the usual bashing of the league for having an All-Star team that couldn’t even beat a regular European league club commences on social media which is undoubtedly not a good look for the league. But even when MLS does win, the fact that it was against a team that treated the game as a preseason tune-up match without some of their best players for the whole 90 minutes takes away from the achievement of defeating a team like Chelsea or Bayern Munich, so not much of a statement is made in terms of the growth and strength of this up-and-coming league in the eyes of soccer fans around the world.

It’s been 14 years of this

The current “All-Stars vs. Europe” format is starting to get a little stale in my opinion. With the exception of Barcelona and Liverpool, I’d argue that almost every household name of a European club in America has been utilized to play against the MLS All-Stars. If MLS keeps going on with this, within a few years the league is going to have to start repeating teams to come and play the All-Stars. Chelsea and Manchester United are already repeat offenders. This, naturally, is going to take away from some of the excitement of the game in my opinion.

MLS All-Stars Vs. Liga MX All-Stars?

This would be an ideal replacement for the current format due to the classic USA vs. Mexico rivalry it would invoke. The game would not only create a ton of publicity in the United States but it would be huge in Mexico as well, and I think it would easily be the most-viewed All-Star Games ever. Back in March, a loose agreement between the two leagues was made to potentially make this All-Star format happen, but minimal information was released in terms of the details and timing of when this game would happen. It would be a wise decision for the league to utilize this option, for not only would it increase global ratings, but the game would be much more competitive and intense due to the passion of the rivalry. This would be refreshing to see due to the sometimes lackluster effort displayed in the current All-Star format and it would be nice to have a little more meaning behind the game as well.

Overall, the MLS All-Star Game is a fantastic evening celebrating the league and its talented stars. But as the league continues to grow and evolve, so too should its All-Star Game.

Follow Jack on Twitter: @JackRenwick22.

Support Soc Takes on Patreon for access to exclusive content and supporter benefits. Click here to become a patron today.