The Star has learned that MLS has chosen the English Premier League squad West Ham United as the opponent for its All-Star game in Toronto this summer.
The game, which marks the second time in three years the MLS all-stars will face an English team, takes place July 24 at BMO Field.
Major League Soccer first drifted away from the traditional intra-league all-star game format in 2001, when its all-stars played the U.S. national team. Since then all but one all-star game has featured a team of MLS standouts against a club team from overseas.
Last summer the MLS all-stars defeated Celtic in Denver, and in 2006 Scarborough's Dwayne De Rosario scored the only goal in the MLS all-stars' 1-0 win over Chelsea.
The league announced last year that Toronto would host the all-star game in 2008, and the deal with West Ham, who currently occupy 10th place in the 20-team Premier League, ends rumours linking teams like Liverpool and Newcastle with the game.
