AS Roma named as opponent for annual MLS All-Star Game

Italian club AS Roma will play a team made up of the best players in Major League Soccer in the league's annual All-Star game on July 31 in Kansas City.

Roma is the first Serie A club to play in the MLS All-Star game, which traditionally pits one of the top international clubs in the world against the best players in the United States.

The MLS All-Stars are 6-2-1 against international clubs, including Manchester United, Everton FC, Chelsea FC and Club Deportivo Guadalajara. Roma views the All-Star game as an opportunity to expand its global brand. The club, founded in 1927, became the first Serie A club to be owned by foreigners when a four-man group of Americans purchased a majority interest in August 2011.