Why The Best Soccer Players in the World Are in MN This Week

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In the world of Major League Soccer, all eyes are focused on Minnesota this week.

That's because the Land of 10,000 Lakes is home to the 2022 Major League Soccer (MSL) All-Star Game and festivities, all being held at Allianz Field in St. Paul. Allianz Field opened in the spring of 2019, and is home to the Loons of Minnesota United FC (MNUFC.)

The All-Star game itself is slated to take place on Wednesday night, but there are already several events and activities that are taking place in and around the Twin Cities metro to kick off MLS All-Star Week. (In fact, several of them already took place Monday night, including a concert by Khalid, which went down on The Commons outside US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.)

Still to come the rest of this week are events like the Skills Challenge, where 'the biggest names across both MLS leagues, including two of MNUFC's own – Dayne St. Clair and Emanuel Reynoso – will be tested by five unique skills competitions.' There's also a podcast taping, paintball challenge and concert by Nur-D all happening before the Skills Challenge Tuesday night at Allianz Field.

The MSL All-Star Game itself will happen on Wednesday night, though there are several events slated to take place before the game starts, including a soccer trivia contest, a soccer tricks exhibition and a concert by Tinashe late Wednesday afternoon. (You can get more info and check the full list of activities HERE.)

The MLS All-Star Game itself is set to start at 7:30 pm on Wednesday night:

MNUFC head coach Adrian Heath leads a star-studded MLS roster, featuring names such as Jesús Ferreira, Walker Zimmerman, Chicharito and many others — including Minnesota's own Emanuel Reynoso and Dayne St. Clair — against the All Stars of Mexico's Liga MX. The action kicks off at Allianz Field on Wednesday, August 10 at 7:30 pm CT and will be broadcast on ESPN, Univision, TSN, and TVA sports.

I'm a little ashamed to admit I haven't yet been up to Allianz Field to see MNUFC in action yet, but it's on my 2022 Minnesota Bucket List of things do to before their season ends in October. Go Loons!

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