Charlotte FC standouts Biel, Westwood named All-Stars

CHARLOTTE FC

Charlotte FC coach Dean Smith will coach the MLS All-Stars against Liga MX's best July 29 at Bank of America Stadium.

For the first time in its five-year existence, Charlotte FC has an All-Star presence.

Three Charlotte players – defender Tim Ream, midfielder Pep Biel and captain Ashley Westwood are on the MLS All-Star roster for the July 29 showcase against Liga MX at Bank of America Stadium. Crown coach Dean Smith is MLS’s gaffer. 

Biel, Charlotte’s Designated Player, has seven goals and four assists across 15 matches. Westwood has a goal and an assist in 14 matches with 649 completed passes with 88% passing accuracy. Ream, who has an assist for the Crown in 11 matches, captained the United States side at the FIFA World Cup. was named to the MLS starting XI last month. Ream’s appearance is his second All-Star berth and comes 15 years after his showcase debut.

Other MLS All-Stars who played in the World Cup include Matt Freese of the U.S., Petar Musa (Croatia) and Richie Laryea (Canada). 

The first 11 players were selected through a combination of fan, player, and media voting, and announced on June 4. The coach selections were a collaborative between Smith, who picked Biel and Westwood, and Major League Soccer. Two selections were made by Commissioner Don Garber – Red Bull New York forward Julian Hall and Toronto FC defender Richie Laryea.

Hall, 18, has progressed from MLS Next to MLS Next Pro before promotion to Red Bull New York’s first team. He became the youngest player to score a hat trick in MLS history, and his 13 goal contributions (nine goals) are the most by a player under the age of 25. 

Laryea, who is in his eighth season with Toronto FC, has established himself as one of MLS’ best fullbacks since entering the league as a SuperDraft selection in 2016. He started every game for the Canada National Team at FIFA World Cup 2026 and is one of just five defenders in MLS this season with multiple goals and multiple assists.

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