Charlotte has scored a major soccer coup: Major League Soccer's 2026 All-Star Game is coming to the city's Bank of America Stadium, as confirmed by league sources to Carolina Sports Live. MLS Commissioner Don Garber, alongside Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, team owners David and Nicole Tepper, and Tepper Sports CEO Kristi Coleman, are slated to make a "special announcement" tomorrow, which is expected to officially unveil this decision.
The venue, which is not traditionally associated with soccer due to it being a non-soccer-specific stadium, marks a departure from recent MLS choices, as noted by WFNZ, with the last similar instance occurring back in 2018. As a part of the festivities, Charlotte is set to host a slew of related events including a skills challenge, a youth MLS Next All-Star Game, and even a Special Olympics Unified Sports match; the buzz around these events is palpable, they anticipate a free Soccer Celebration fan event too and maybe even a concert announcement later is in the works.
This is not the first rodeo for Charlotte when it comes to hosting major sporting events, it's hosted the NBA All-Star Game twice and recently welcomed the PGA Championship and FIFA Club World Cup, illustrating its capacity to handle crowds and fanfare. The economic implications for the city are significant, as this year's All-Star game is estimated to generate "at least $20 million in economic impact for Austin," according to Drew Hays, Austin Sports Commission executive director, a figure mentioned in an Axios report.
Charlotte's soccer history is not to be understated; the city first demonstrated its love for the sport during the 1980 American Soccer League All-Star game and later when the Carolina Lightnin' clenched the 1981 ASL Championship, despite these events happened over 40 years ago the zeal has only escalated, today, Charlotte FC boasts an impressive average attendance of 31,071 fans through its first 10 home matches this season, illustrating the city's evolving dedication to the sport, as documented by Axios. In anticipation of Wednesday's revelation, Charlotte FC is set to play D.C. United while sporting an "archive" kit, paying homage to the city's soccer roots and the Lightnin' legacy.
