Chicago Fire FC centre-back Mbekezeli Mbokazi became the second South African to make a Major League Soccer All-Star roster and will be the first player from his country to start, the league announced Friday. Mbokazi is among the starters who will face an All-Star side from Mexico’s Liga MX in Charlotte, N.C., on July 29.
Mbokazi joins Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) and Son Heung-min (LAFC) in the All-Star first XI. He is set to partner Charlotte FC veteran Tim Ream at centre-back, with Nashville SC goalkeeper Brian Schwake and fullback Andy Nájar also included in the starting lineup.
The South Africa international has featured in 12 of Chicago’s 14 MLS matches this season as the Fire sit third in the Eastern Conference. He received the most fan votes of any player for the All-Star team; The Athletic reported that the club saw an increase of 180,000 followers across its social channels in the first 48 hours after Mbokazi’s signing was announced on Dec. 2, 2025.
The Athletic added that the social-media surge occurred three weeks before Mbokazi began an impressive Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco. The defender, nicknamed “TLB” for Tractor Loader Backhoe, produced a notable performance in the AFCON group-stage meeting with an Egypt side that included Mohamed Salah.
The All-Star starting XI also includes Vancouver Whitecaps defensive midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and Chicago forward Hugo Cuypers. Mbokazi, Messi, Son, Berhalter and Ream were among five first-XI players called up to this year’s World Cup in Mexico, Canada and the United States (June 11–July 19). Former Columbus Crew midfielder Doctor Khumalo had been the only other South African to appear in an MLS All-Star game, coming off the bench in the inaugural 1996 contest.
