lr: Austin FC majority owner Anthony Precourt, MLS commissioner Don Garber and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson appear at Antone’s Nightclub on Wednesday to announce Austin as the host of the All-Star Game MLS 2025. (Credit: Austin FC Communications)
Austin FC’s home of Q2 Stadium will host the 2025 Major League Soccer All-Star Game, MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced Wednesday afternoon at Antone Nightclub.
The event will bring a full week of football festivities to the Texas capital, culminating in an exhibition match that will field a full roster of the league’s brightest stars – potentially including Lionel Messi, Olivier Giroud and Sebastián Driussi himself. Austin FC – against an opponent yet to be named.
“We are thrilled to bring the 2025 MLS All-Star Game to Austin,” said Garber. “This club deserves to have our biggest event. The fan support, the community support, the corporate partner support, the dedication of the ownership has just transcended in so many different ways for our league and for the sport of football in America. So what better way to say thank you than to make the MLS All-Star Game (here)?”
In addition to the MLS All-Star Game, the week will also include the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge, the MLS NEXT All-Star Game and the MLS All-Star Concert, along with several other activations and fan experiences.
An exact date for the event was not announced, although it is likely to take place in July or August 2025.
Austin FC will host the league’s championship event in just its fifth year of existence. Since the club’s first game at Q2 Stadium in 2021, Austin FC has officially sold out every home game. The ATX fan base has also drawn praise for creating one of the loudest and most consistent home atmospheres in the league.
“This club represents everything we dreamed Major League Soccer would be,” Garber said. “Everyone who loves this club and loves the sport of football in this city has earned the right to have this game.”
Garber wouldn’t suggest any candidates for the team that will face the MLS All-Stars in the game. In the past, the league has welcomed one of the biggest clubs in Europe to participate as part of their international off-season tour. However, three of the last four All-Star Games, including the 2024 edition taking place this summer, have pitted the MLS All-Stars against a counterpart All-Stars team from Liga MX (Mexico).
There has been speculation that 2017 All-Star Game opponent Real Madrid may be in talks with the league and Austin FC about retaking that role, especially given that Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez recently visited Q2 Stadium in April as a guest of Austin FC. However, Garber poured cold water on that theory.
“(Austin FC minority owner) Eddie Margain and Florentino are friends,” Garber said. “We are not in any discussion with them about an All-Star opponent, but that does not take away the tremendous respect we have for Real Madrid and their president.”
