Major League Soccer today opened the voting process for the 2023 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, which includes participation by players, fans, and media. The 2023 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target will feature the MLS All-Stars taking on Arsenal FC, the renowned 13-time English league champions, at Audi Field, home of D.C. United.
Houston Dynamo FC players eligible for the MLS All-Star game include captain Héctor Herrera, who was recently named to the MLSSoccer.com Team of the Matchday for the second time this season. The Mexican international scored the equalizer and tallied an assist in Houston’s 2-1 victory over Austin last Saturday. Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark finished with three saves against Austin and has tallied five clean sheets this season. The veteran goalkeeper has played a key role in Houston’s defensive success at home this campaign, conceding just two goals in nine matches. The team returns to league action later today when they face Vancouver Whitecaps FC for the first of three road games in a seven-day stretch.
As part of the voting process, MLS reviewed performance metrics from the current season to categorize players in the positions where they are most utilized. Players will be selected in seven specific positions: goalkeeper, right back, center back, left back, defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder, and forward/winger.
Of the 26 MLS players to be selected for the All-Star Game, the breakdown is as follows:
- 12 players will be determined by a vote of MLS players, fans, and media. Each of the three voting groups will represent one-third of the combined vote.
- 12 players will be selected by MLS All-Star head coach Wayne Rooney of the host team, D.C. United.
- Two players will be selected by MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
Players, fans and media will cast their votes for 11 players in a 4-1-2-3 formation: one goalkeeper, one right back, two center backs, one left back, one defensive midfielder, two attacking midfielders and three forwards/wingers. The top players from each position from the combined vote will be named All-Stars. The 12th player selected will be the one who received the next-highest total of overall votes.
To qualify for the ballot, players must have appeared in at least 50 percent of his club’s matches this season at the time the ballot was created on May 18. Players who did not qualify for the ballot are still eligible for selection by MLS All-Star head coach Wayne Rooney or Commissioner Garber.
Fan voting opens today, Wednesday, May 31, at 12 p.m. ET and will close at 11:59 p.m. PT on Wednesday, June 14. All fans can vote on https://www.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2023/vote/fan-vote or via the MLS App, and every fan has the unique opportunity to share their picks on social media.
Every player from each of the 29 MLS clubs will receive a unique link to vote for their peers. Approximately 500 members of the media who regularly cover MLS will also make their selections to represent MLS.
The MLS All-Star Game presented by Target and MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G at Audi Field will be available to watch in more than 100 countries and regions in English, Spanish, and French on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app. Fans can subscribe to MLS Season Pass now through the Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, game consoles, and the web at tv.apple.com.
Tickets for the MLS All-Star Game presented by Target are on sale at MLSSoccer.com/All-Star or by clicking here.
