In an unexpected move for the 2025 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge, popular streamer IShowSpeed will compete alongside former USMNT star Clint Dempsey and 2025 Gold Cup standout Diego Luna. This event, taking place during the MLS All-Star week, brings together top talent from Major League Soccer and Liga MX, but IShowSpeed’s inclusion raises questions about how a streamer fits into a professional skills competition.
The Major League Soccer All-Star week features encounters between MLS’s best players and stars from Mexico’s Liga MX, which in 2025 prominently includes global icons James Rodríguez and Sergio Ramos, both former Real Madrid champions. In this context, IShowSpeed’s participation represents a deliberate effort by MLS to broaden the event’s appeal beyond traditional sports fans.
Why MLS Invited a Streamer to Compete with Soccer Professionals
MLS extended an invitation to IShowSpeed as an unofficial competitor due to his significant influence, with over 42 million YouTube subscribers and a large, engaged audience. This decision reflects the league’s aim to increase excitement and engagement, especially among younger viewers who follow digital content creators. Beyond his online presence, IShowSpeed has demonstrated basic soccer skills through charity matches worldwide, providing a foundation for his participation in the skills challenge.
By integrating former stars like Clint Dempsey, current MLS and Liga MX players such as Jordi Alba, Diego Luna, and Denis Bouanga, along with a global streaming personality, MLS is pushing this exhibition event to be more fan-oriented and inclusive, using a mix of talent to attract diverse audiences around the world.
TONIGHT. ✨The best of MLS and the best of @LigaBBVAMX will put on a show in the #MLSAllStar Skills Challenge.️ Tickets: https://t.co/1GpdiVgWen #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/uJrJBlglqK pic.twitter.com/Habumg3C4d— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 22, 2025
Events and Possible Roles for IShowSpeed in the Skills Challenge
The MLS Skills Challenge includes five competition categories: Shooting Challenge, Touch Challenge, Cross & Volley Challenge, Passing Challenge, and Crossbar Challenge. Although MLS has not specified which challenge IShowSpeed will participate in, he could compete in one or multiple events to maximize viewer engagement.
Known for his admiration of Cristiano Ronaldo, IShowSpeed is likely to take part in the Shooting or Touch Challenge categories, leveraging his enthusiasm and familiarity with soccer techniques. His involvement underscores MLS’s strategy of blending entertainment with sport to captivate a global audience during the All-Star festivities.
What This Means for MLS and the Future of All-Star Events
The integration of a major streaming personality like IShowSpeed into the 2025 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge signals a shift in how the league approaches fan interaction and event presentation. By bridging the gap between digital entertainment and professional soccer, MLS is preparing to attract a broader, younger demographic, potentially setting a new standard for future exhibition events.
As MLS continues to expand its global reach, collaborations with influential figures outside traditional sports circles may become more common, enhancing the league’s visibility and connection with diverse audiences worldwide.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Does Diego Luna have a wife?
A. In his personal life, Luna married Camila Sodi in February 2008, but they ended their marriage in March 2013. The couple has two children together, including a son named Jerónimo.
Q. Who is Diego Luna’s wife?
A. In February 2008, Luna tied the knot with Camila Sodi, but they parted ways in March 2013. Together, they have two kids, including Jerónimo.