
Charlotte to host MLS All-Star game in 2026 for first time, AP source says
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement has not been made official. MLS commissioner Don Garber is expected to confirm the venue on Wednesday at a news conference in Charlotte.
Charlotte FC, owned by Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper, was named the league's 28th franchise in 2019 and began play in the league in 2022. The game will be played at Bank of America Stadium, which is also home to the Panthers.
This year's All-Star game is set for Austin, Texas, between the MLS All-Stars and the Liga MX All-Stars.
The opponents for the 2026 All-Star game will be announced at a later date.
___
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
18 minutes ago
- USA Today
Will Caitlin Clark play against the Liberty? Her injury status for July 16 game revealed
Indiana Fever superstar guard Caitlin Clark will miss her 10th regular-season game on Wednesday night in New York against the Liberty after sustaining a right groin injury against the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night. This is Clark's 11th game missed in total this year counting the Commissioner's Cup championship game. Clark was listed as questionable throughout the day on Wednesday by the team, but the Fever look to be playing it safe with the new injury. ESPN's Alexa Philippou reported on Clark's downgraded status a couple of hours before Indiana's tipoff against the Liberty at Barclays Center. Philippou added that her status for the weekend's WNBA All-Star activities in Indianapolis is unclear. While early indicators are that Clark avoided serious injury, it's probably smart for the Fever to hold Clark out for the team's second road game in two days as not to make the new injury worse. Perhaps we won't go as long as we have in the past when Clark's injuries have flared up this season to see her back on the court for Indiana.


USA Today
18 minutes ago
- USA Today
4-point shot and live-play subs highlight 2025 WNBA All-Star Game rule changes
Indiana Fever All-Star guard Caitlin Clark promised the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis will be "the best All-Star that the WNBA has ever had." The league is doing its part by implementing rule changes to make the Saturday matchup between Team Clark and Team Naphessa Collier even flashier and faster. On Wednesday, the WNBA announced four special rules will be in play at the All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to provide "added entertainment and an enhanced pace of play" for one night only on Saturday. The changes include a four-point shot deep from the logo and live-play substitutions similar to hockey. Special rules were first implemented at the 2022 All-Star game in Chicago, leading to Team A'ja Wilson's high-energy 134-112 win over Team Breanna Stewart. Here's a breakdown for each rule: AT&T 4-Point shot The 4-point shot is back. The 4-point shot was first implemented at the 2022 WNBA All-Star Game and made an appearance at the 2023 edition, before going on hiatus in the 2024 WNBA exhibition game between the U.S. women's national team and Team WNBA ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Each player will have the opportunity to score four points by shooting at a designated 'AT&T 4-Point Shot' area on the court, made up of four circles placed 28-feet from the rim, six feet further than the 3-point line. For every 4-point shot successfully made, AT&T will donate to a foundation selected by the WNBA and players. THE STAGE IS SET 🌟Team Clark and Team Collier have locked in their final rosters for the 2025 @ATT WNBA All-Star Game!Watch them take the court in Indianapolis July 19 at 8:30pm/ET on ABC. Live-play substitutions The WNBA is taking a page from the NHL's playbook. Team's will be allowed to make hockey-like player substitutions while the ball is in play, but only under certain conditions. The team on offense is the only one permitted to make a live-play substitution and only one player is allowed per possession. According to the WNBA: Any violations of these conditions will result in a turnover. 20-second shot clock Bye-bye, 24 second shot clock. Players will have to get to the basket a little quicker as the shot clock will be shortened from 24 to 20 seconds. Following an offensive rebound, the shot clock will be reset to 14 seconds. No free throws Free throws are being shown the door. Anytime a player is required to shoot a free throw, they will "automatically be credited with the maximum available point(s) given the situation," the league explained. Free throws will only be in play in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and in overtime. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.


Fox Sports
18 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Euro 2025: Girelli's two goals lift Italy over Hegerberg's Norway into semifinals
Associated Press GENEVA (AP) — On a night of goals and drama for two veteran star strikers, Cristiani Girelli got the better of Ada Hegerberg to send Italy into the semifinals of the Women's European Championship on Wednesday. Girelli's 90th-minute header, her second goal of the game, sealed a 2-1 win over Norway, whose captain Hegerberg had tied the game after missing a penalty. Italy will return to Geneva next Tuesday to face either Sweden or England for its first Women's Euros semifinal since 1997. The 35-year-old Girelli had seized the lead for Italy in the 50th by deftly guiding in a shot fired across the Norway goal by Sofia Cantore. With extra time looming, Girelli met Cantore's perfectly weighted cross with a graceful leap at the far post to direct her header just under the crossbar. Hegerberg leveled the score in the 66th with her first scoring chance just six minutes after missing a penalty kick for the second time at Euro 2025. Hegerberg ran clear to a long pass and poked a shot past onrushing goalkeeper Laura Giuliani. The slow-rolling ball just beat the Italian defenders in a race to the goal line. Girelli's Geneva Girelli now has 61 goals for Italy and the last three all went into the same net at the mountains end of the Stade de Genève stadium. She also scored one of the goals of the tournament, curling in a 22-meter yard shot against Portugal that shaped to be decisive in the group stage until Italy conceded an 89th-minute equalizer. It was Italy that finished strong in the first knockout round and no one more than Girelli. Hegerberg on the spot The Norway star has taken two penalty kicks at Euro 2025 and missed both, placing her two shots wide of each post. She also scored in each of those games. Hegerberg won this spot-kick by falling under a grappling challenge from Italy captain Elena Linari trying to meet a high cross. Replays suggested Hegerberg might have been offside. Taking a short and slow run to the ball, Hegerberg sent her shot wide of the left hand post of Guiliani, who guessed correctly which way to dive. The former Ballon d'Or winner also missed when Norway led 2-1 over Switzerland, shooting to the right of Livia Peng's dive, in an opening day win by that score. ___ AP soccer: recommended Item 1 of 3