For most coaches, the MLS All-Star Game presents a challenge unlike any other during the season. Charlotte FC head coach Dean Smith will have only a few training sessions to mold some of Major League Soccer’s biggest stars into a cohesive team, but it’s a challenge he’s eagerly welcomes.
Smith acknowledged that balancing competition with entertainment is part of the unique nature of the event. While the match carries an exhibition atmosphere, he believes elite players naturally want to compete.
“The best players are usually winners,” Smith said. “They’ll want to win because that’s who they are.”
As the host city’s manager, Smith was also tasked with helping assemble the roster. Alongside fan-selected players, he chose Charlotte FC standouts Ashley Westwood and Pep Biel after what he described as outstanding performances during the first half of the MLS season. He praised Biel’s continued development, noting the midfielder’s technical ability, creativity, and consistent offensive production despite battling injuries.
Building an All-Star squad, however, is about more than selecting the league’s biggest names. Smith explained that constructing a balanced roster required collaboration with MLS while ensuring representation from across the league and rewarding players returning from the FIFA World Cup. The result, he believes, is a roster capable of both entertaining supporters and competing at a high level.
Hosting the event in Charlotte also represents another milestone for both the club and the region.
Since arriving in North Carolina, Smith has repeatedly emphasized raising Charlotte FC’s profile nationally. He believes the MLS All-Star Game, following the momentum generated by the World Cup and other major international events, provides another opportunity to showcase the city’s growing soccer culture.
“I think hosting the All-Star Game can only help grow the sport,” Smith said, pointing to the enthusiasm of Charlotte supporters and the city’s rapid emergence as a soccer destination.
While tactics will inevitably take a back seat to entertainment during All-Star Week, Smith expects the competitive spirit to remain.
For a manager accustomed to preparing for league matches every weekend, the opportunity to coach many of MLS’s top talents—even for just a few days—is one he views as both an honor and another opportunity to learn from some of the league’s best players and coaches.
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