MLS commissioner says Montreal is a potential host for 2017 MLS all-star game

MONTREAL – Montreal is being considered to host the 2017 Major League Soccer all-star game.

League commissioner Don Garber said he discussed the plan in a meeting with Mayor Denis Coderre prior to the Impact’s game against D.C. United on Wednesday.

Garber said it made sense for Montreal to host “an event that would be important and worthy of the anniversary of this great city, and also be able to provide a profile for the Montreal Impact.”

The event would coincide with Montreal’s 375th anniversary.

“Very preliminary,” Garber warned.

The all-star game reunites the league’s best players as voted by team managers and fans. Since 2005, MLS has invited professional clubs from Europe to face its all-stars.

Garber also addressed the Canadian Soccer Association’s desire to host the 2026 World Cup. He said he would support the bid, but that MLS needed a stronger relationship with the CSA in order for that to happen.

Garber also added that while MLS continues to expand — three more teams will enter the league over the next three years — Canada would not see an expansion team in the foreseeable future.

“I don’t see that there’s a need for additional cities in the short or mid term,” he said. “We still have many large cities in the U.S. without teams and large portions of the country where you don’t have teams. Right now, expanding to the Western provinces is not a priority.”

Notes: Garber said the plans to bring an expansion team to Miami had hit a little snag, as the city’s mayor rejected football superstar David Beckham’s latest proposal to build a new stadium on the waterfront. … Recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, Garber will not be going to Brazil for health reasons and will miss the World Cup for the first time since being named commissioner.