Two special guests with U.S. Soccer ties will join three of the seven players named MLS All-Stars from the latest U.S. Men’s National Team camp for the chance to show off their talents in the 2025 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge Presented by AT&T.
Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) and Alex Freeman (Orlando City SC) are among 10 MLS players selected to compete in the showcase held at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas at 8 p.m. CT on Tuesday July 22, one day before the All-Star Game.
Two U.S. Soccer centerpieces will also feature in the challenge: USMNT legend Clint Dempsey and USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps. Dempsey, a Texas native, will return to his home state to take part in the competition. Heaps will also compete, bringing her signature flair and World Cup-winning pedigree to the highly anticipated MLS event.
These 12 representatives will put their skills on display with some of the best in the world. The MLS All-Stars will compete against 10 players, plus two special guests, from Liga MX, Mexico’s top division soccer league, in five head-to-head contests meant to test players’ ball control, accuracy, strategy and teamwork.
The five challenges:
- MLS All-Star Shooting Challenge presented by AT&T
- MLS All-Star Touch Challenge presented by Old Spice
- MLS All-Star Cross & Volley Challenge presented by AT&T
- MLS All-Star Passing Challenge presented by Bounty
- MLS All-Star Crossbar Challenge presented by Gillette
Luna is listed as one of the headliners for Tuesday’s event, and the attacking midfielder will participate in three of the five challenges: shooting, cross & volley and crossbar. The 2024 MLS Young Player of the Year made his All-Star debut last season as the youngest player on the squad, proving why he’s one of the most exciting rising prospects in American soccer.
Fresh off helping the United States reach the Gold Cup Final for the 13th time in program history, this marks the first All-Star appearance for Freeman and Berhalter. The pair will represent MLS in two challenges – touch and cross & volley. Berhalter will also compete in the passing challenge.
For just the second year in a row, MLS and Liga MX greats, alongside two of the best female players in North America, will join the All-Stars in the Skills Challenge. Retired from the sport and currently serving as a CBS analyst, Dempsey will compete in the passing and crossbar challenges. Heaps, current OL Lyonnes midfielder and two-time World Cup champion, will display her quality in the shooting, touch and crossbar challenges.
The Skills Challenge is among a variety of sport-based events during All-Star Week, including Goalie Wars, which features MLS NEXT Pro goalkeepers and All-Star Unified, a festivity for players with developmental disabilities and partners who are part of the MLS Unified program.
The Skills Challenge kicks off Tuesday, July 22 at 8 p.m. CT. The event will be streamed live exclusively on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV in both English and Spanish. For more info, visit MLSoccer.com.
