MLS All-Star Game 2023: Roster Predictions and Latest Details on Captain Voting

The MLS All-Star Game will be played on July 19, with the league's stars taking on English Premier League giant Arsenal.

MLS fans, media members and players will determine 12 of the players on the roster, while MLS All-Star head coach Wayne Rooney will select another 12 and league commissioner Don Garber will select the final two.

Alongside voting for the starting 11, fans can also participate in the MLS All-Star Captain Fan Vote. Supporters will have the opportunity to select which player will wear the armband for the match.

In total, fans will vote for one goalkeeper, four defensive positions (one right-back, one left-back, two center-backs), three midfield positions (one defensive mid, two attacking mids) and three forwards.

The MLS All-Star Captain Fan Vote begins June 21 and ends on June 29. The results will be announced on July 5.

Below, we'll offer some predictions for the starting 11 and analyze some of the top potential choices.

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Predictions

GK: Roman Bürki, St. Louis City SC

LB: Álvaro Barreal, FC Cincinnati

CB: Miles Robinson, Atlanta United

CB: Matt Miazga, FC Cincinnati

RB: Juan Mosquera, Portland Timbers

DM: Aidan Morris, Columbus Crew

AM: Thiago Almada, Atlanta United

AM: Hany Mukhtar, Nashville SC

FWD: Cristian Espinoza, San Jose Earthquakes

FWD: Dénis Bouanga, Los Angeles FC

FWD: Christian Benteke, D.C. United

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Analysis

Many of the players listed in the predictions section are obviously up for debate. There is a ton of talent in the league.

The one player who isn't really debatable, however, is Nashville's Mukhtar, who has posted 10 goals and seven assists on the season.

Only Atlanta's Thiago Almada (seven goals, eight assists) and Philadelphia's Dániel Gazdag (seven goals, eight assists)—who was one of the hardest players to leave off the starting 11—come close to Mukhtar's combined goals and assists tally (17).

The player who shares the lead in goals with Mukhtar this season, LAFC's Bouanga, was another no-brainer selection. It got tricky from there, though, with players like FC Dallas' Jesús Ferreira, Philadelphia's Julián Carranza, Seattle's Jordan Morris and Atlanta's Giorgios Giakoumakis all making strong cases to be considered at the forward position.

However, Espinoza's eight goals and four assists and Benteke's aerial threat made them strong choices to join Bouanga in the attacking third.

Given the roster spots to be filled by Rooney and Garber, it's possible all of them will make the final cut.