Charlotte FC to Host 2026 MLS All-Star Game
Week of events to take place across city in lead-up to the match
Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner Don Garber was in town Wednesday to officially announce that Charlotte FC will host the 2026 MLS All-Star Game, marking the first-ever all-star game played at Bank of America Stadium.
The stadium will play host to the league’s 30th all-star matchup next summer, broadcasting to over 100 countries and regions through Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.
The match will be accompanied by a week-long celebration of soccer and culture with a full slate of fan events throughout the city.
“Charlotte has turned into a big-time soccer city and we are pleased to bring the 2026 MLS All-Star Game to the Queen City,” Garber said during a press conference Wednesday morning. “The city and region keep showing up for the sport — from packed Charlotte FC crowds to global events like the FIFA Club World Cup and Copa América the past two summers. We’re excited to bring another marquee soccer event to Charlotte.”
Charlotte FC was founded in 2019, debuting in 2022. The club welcomed a record 74,479 fans to Bank of America Stadium in its inaugural home opener and has continued to grow a legacy of hosting major domestic and international soccer matches, a release from the team on Wednesday stated.
“The success of soccer matches at Bank of America Stadium has helped position Charlotte on the global stage as a premier destination for hosting some of the world’s top players and teams,” stated David Tepper, owner and chairman of Tepper Sports & Entertainment, which owns Charlotte FC, the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and Bank of America Stadium.
The announcement came one week before this year’s MLS All-Star Game, in which the MLS All-Stars will take on the LIGA MX All-Stars at Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium on July 23. The date and opponent for the 2026 match has not yet been announced.
The week-long celebrations surrounding next year’s match will include community programming and fan entertainment such as the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge, the MLS NEXT All-Star Game, and MLS All-Star Soccer Celebration.
Read More: A Look Into Charlotte FC’s First Playoff Series
“Charlotte is proud to be selected as the host city for the 2026 MLS All-Star Game,” said Mayor Vi Lyles, who was on hand Wednesday morning for the announcement. “This is a tremendous honor that reflects our city’s growing passion for soccer and our ability to shine on a national and international stage.
“Events like this don’t just bring excitement — they bring meaningful economic impact, driving millions of dollars into our local economy and supporting the small businesses and workers that make Charlotte thrive,” Lyles continued. “We look forward to welcoming fans from across the country and around the world to experience everything our vibrant, diverse city has to offer.”
Since Charlotte FC made its league debut in 2022, it has consistently ranked in the top two clubs in attendance throughout its four seasons at Bank of America, with at least 15 games accommodating over 34,000 fans.
The stadium regularly draws in crowds of more than 50,000 people and has welcomed nearly 3 million fans since the club’s inception through events including MLS, Leagues Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and Copa America, generating $1.1 billion of economic impact in the greater Charlotte area, according to Wednesday’s release.
“I am proud that North Carolina has been chosen to host the 2026 Major League Soccer All-Star Game,” stated Gov. Josh Stein in Wednesday’s release. “Our state’s new Major Events Fund puts us in a stronger position to compete for these highly visible, top-tier events that draw people and their resources to our state. Visitors to Charlotte will see that North Carolina is a great place to live, work, and play.”
The NC Commerce Department’s Major Events, Games, and Attractions Fund was created as part of a law passed in 2023 that established sports betting in the state. Thirty percent of annual tax revenue resulting from sports betting supports the Major Events Fund.
Local governments and locally authorized organizing committees apply for grants from the fund, which then reimburses qualified expenses incurred in both securing and executing a major event.
According to a release from Gov. Stein’s office, a grant of $2,028,950 from the fund will support the Charlotte Sports Foundation and other local partners in hosting the 2026 MLS All-Star Game.
