Voting for the 2017 All-Star Game presented by Target is underway, with 176 players (eight per team) eligible for votes throughout the league. The MLS All-Star team will compete against 2017 UEFA Champions League winners and La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid at Soldier Field in Chicago on Wednesday, August 2.

Since moving away from the East vs. West format, the MLS All-Stars have been competing against top clubs from around the world, beginning with a 2005 fixture against Fulham, then of the Premier League. That match finished 4-1 in favor of the All-Stars, with Taylor Twellman finding the back of the net early and Ronnie O’Brien and Jeff Cunningham finishing the match off with three second half goals.

Overall, the series has been relatively even, although MLS holds a slight edge with seven total wins and five losses – including a 1-1 (3-4) penalty shootout loss to Everton on July 29, 2009. The MLS All-Star team consists of 22 players, 11 voted onto the squad by fans, two selected by MLS Commissioner Don Garber, and the remaining players selected by the All-Star coach. This year’s coach is Veljko Paunovic, Head Coach of the Chicago Fire. Here is where voting stands at the moment:

Goalkeepers

1. Tim Howard
2. Alec Kann
3. Joe Bendik
4. Tim Melia
5. Stefan Frei

1. Greg Garza
2. DaMarcus Beasley
3. Leandro Pirez
4. Graham Zusi
5. Ashley Cole

Midfielders

1. Miguel Almiron
2. Bastian Schweinsteiger
3. Kaka
4. Michael Bradley
5. Kellyn Acosta

Forwards

1. Nemanja Nikolic
2. David Villa
3. Sebastian Giovinco
4. Josef Martinez
5. Jozy Altidore

EA Sports “More Than a Vote” challenge

The third forward in the Fan XI:

1. Sebastian Giovinco
2. David Villa
3. Giovani dos Santos
4. Jozy Altidore
5. Nemanja Nikolic
6. Josef Martinez

Provisionally on the match day roster