MLS, Liga MX announce details for joint 2021 All-Star Game in Los Angeles

Major League Soccer and Mexico's Liga MX already put their best teams in two dual-national competitions: the Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup. An All-Star game on American soil is next in line.

MLS and Liga MX all-star teams will face each other on Aug. 25 at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles. Commissioner Don Garber announced Los Angeles Football Club's Bob Bradley will coach the MLS side. The match will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 and Univision.

"It should be noted that this game will be broadcasted in almost 200 countries around the world and that it will be the only game of its type," Garber said at a news conference Wednesday in Los Angeles. "No other league has done anything like this: two leagues coming together."

A week of MLS all-star festivities 

Garber did not disclose details on events supplementing the game, but said there will be an MLS All-Star Skills Challenge and MLS All-Star Concert. An unprecedented meeting between MLS and Liga MX owners also will take place. Community events will be announced later.

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All-Star game during MLS rivalry week?

During MLS rivalry week each summer, clubs play their historical or regional rivals. However this year, the MLS-Liga MX All-Star game takes place during rivalry week, instead of three to four weeks earlier. It could not be pushed back one week because of a FIFA international window beginning Aug. 30.

"The timing was intentional," Garber said. "What could be a better way to capitalize on rivalry week, and make it a rivalry period, where we're talking about the rivalry between our two leagues.

"… I think it's important to note that while the (all-star) game has always been earlier in the year, we didn't know 30 days ago (if) we would be able to have one," Garber added.

The MLS rivalry week concludes the weekend of Aug. 27-29, featuring the "Hell is Real Derby" between the Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati on Aug. 27 (on ESPN), Los Angeles FC hosting the LA Galaxy in El Tráfico at Banc of California Stadium on Aug. 28 (on FOX) and the Seattle Sounders hosting the Portland Timbers in the renewal of their Cascadia Derby on Aug. 29 (on ESPN).

Will game with Liga MX continue?

Garber did not rule out the continuation of a joint All-Star game in the future, but said said success also could lead to expansion of the eight-team Leagues Cup.

"There's things that we might do together with our development clubs, things we might be able to work together on youth programming and youth competitions," Garber said. "There's a wide variety of activities, and to me, the MLS All-Star game is just one aspect of that."

Follow The Tennessean's Drake Hills on Twitter @LiveLifeDrake and on Instagram at @drakehillssoccer.