Football: San Jose named host of 2016 MLS All-Star Game

The San Jose Earthquakes will host next year’s Major League Soccer All-Star Game, the league announced Thursday, but the date and the opposition have not yet been confirmed.

The California club’s new 18,000-seat home stadium opened two months ago, the 15th MLS-specific venue that has helped the US and Canadian league secure financial stability in its 20th campaign.

Next year’s match will come in the summer. Traditionally the match is staged in late July, but the league will likely consider the Rio de Janeiro Olympics being staged on August 5-21 when deciding when to play.

Top MLS talent, coached by Earthquakes boss Dominic Kinnear, will play against an international side.

The MLS All-Stars have won seven and lost three of their games with one drawn entering this year’s July 29 contest against English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

Last year the MLS side beat Bayern Munich 2-1, although the North American players were in mid-season form while the German giants were in the early stages of pre-season.

Other European clubs to play in the contest include Chelsea, Manchester United, Celtic, Roma, Everton, Fulham and West Ham United.

San Jose previously hosted the MLS All-Star Game in 2001, when the Eastern and Western Conference squads played to a 6-6 draw.