It’s MLS All-Star Week, held this year at Orlando’s Exploria Stadium. There’s plenty on the docket in this annual celebration of the best and the brightest in MLS.
This will be the first time Exploria Stadium has hosted the MLS All-Star Game. This year the match features MLS All-Stars competing against Atlético de Madrid. Orlando is a city dedicated to tourism and dedicated to big events, so there will be plenty to do before and after the big game on Wednesday. The celebration began over the weekend with the eMLS tourney and an All-Star concert featuring Prince Royce, but the action on the pitches begins today. Here are some highlights (all times Eastern):
July 29
Today sees MLS Works and Target present youth, age-based, soccer clinics run by Orlando City SC affiliated coaches plus soccer skills activations, music and refreshments. It’s set for 1-4 p.m. at Neptune Middle School in Kissimmee.
July 30
The festivities shift of ESPN Wide World of Sports in Disney World, where two events are on tap. First, the 2019 MLS Homegrown Game features players from US and Canadian youth national teams set to represent the league. That match begins at 5 p.m. It’s followed by the Skills Challenge, where stars like Wayne Rooney, Carlos Vela, Jonathan dos Santos and Nani participate in a 90-minute event that features three teams—MLS All-Stars, Orlando City SC, and Atlético de Madrid—competing in three skills rooted in the sport: shooting, touch and volley, and passing.
July 31
The day begins at 10 a.m. at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex with the 6th Annual Special Olympics Unified Sports All-Star Showcase featuring participants representing MLS clubs. The East and West Unified Sports All-Star soccer teams, comprised of players both with and without intellectual disabilities, will play an 11 v 11 match.
The festivities at Exploria Stadium begin at 3:30 p.m. with the Soccer Celebration fan zone, which includes player appearances, interactive games, fun giveaways and prizes.
At 8 p.m. the MLS All-Star Game will begin. There are still tickets available for what should be a great experience: plenty of stars on the field, and Orlando City certainly presents a great fan experience at Exploria Stadium.