How would an All-Star game look between best of MLS, Liga MX?
To strengthen bonds between the United States, Mexico, and Canada during their joint bid to host the 2026 World Cup, Major League Soccer and Liga MX have teamed up to organize a match between MLS Cup holder Toronto FC and the winner of the Campeon de Campeones - the final between the Apertura and Clausura champions.
Related: MLS, Liga MX announce partnership, including cup match between league champs
In addition to the inaugural Campeones Cup at BMO Field on Sept. 19, a date will also be set for an All-Star game between the two leagues.
Here, theScore looks at how those All-Star sides could line up, and invites you to a pick a winner.
The teams
MLS All-Stars
The Eastern Conference-dominated lineup will please the locals if, like the Campeones Cup, the all-star game is staged at BMO Field; a strong Toronto FC contingent of Justin Morrow, Chris Mavinga, Michael Bradley, Sebastian Giovinco, and Jozy Altidore forge the team's spine. The All-Stars often feature players based more on reputation than form, so the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Carlos Vela would undoubtedly push for selection. Josef Martinez, Victor Vazquez, and Laurent Ciman are notable exclusions, while the goalkeeping position is the trickiest spot to fill. Stefan Frei, the experienced shot-stopper of the Seattle Sounders, wins a start on this occasion.
Liga MX All-Stars
Some may believe not including Cesar Montes and Aviles Hurtado is an oversight, but fans, coaches, and Liga MX suits picking this team would be spoiled for choice. Edgar Mendez benefits from Victor Guzman's injury that renders him unavailable for the 2018 World Cup, but the biggest story is Djaniny Tavares. The Cape Verdean has exploded onto the scene for Santos Laguna, and beats a legion of big-name stars to play between Tigres duo Andre-Pierre Gignac and Enner Valencia. Keisuke Honda gets the nod behind the ferocious frontline, and California-born teenager Jonathan Gonzalez anchors the midfield.