The Major League Soccer All-Star Game will pit the league's top talents against Everton FC of the English Premier League at Rio Tinto Stadium on July 29, officials have confirmed, bringing the Toffees to Utah for the second time in two years.

"It's part of our continuing strategy of having our All-Stars compete against high-level competition," league commissioner Don Garber said. "I believe it's among the most compelling all-star formats in team sports. Really, sporting pride is on the line."

Tickets will go on sale to the general public May 9, and the game -- marking the first major showcase for the $110 million stadium -- will be televised nationally on ESPN2. League officials estimate it will be seen in more than 100 countries and 40 million homes, after it was viewed in 96 countries last season.

The league reportedly had negotiated with Valencia and Villareal of La Liga in Spain to challenge its best players, but turned to Everton when those clubs could not commit -- Valencia because of financial problems and Villareal because of potential European competition next summer. Nevertheless, the MLS All-Stars will face a quality team that includes American goalkeeper Tim Howard and sits sixth in the Premier League with less than a month left in the season.

"It will be a formidable challenge for the All-Stars and, I think, a great attraction for the fans," said Real Salt Lake owner David Checketts, who originally had hoped to make Real Madrid the All-Star opponent. "This is going to be a week-long party."

While the All-Star Game marks the mid-point of the MLS season, Everton will be in the middle of summer training for the next Premier League season, which begins in August.

Based in Liverpool, the team will play Chelsea for the prestigious FA Cup next month, and features not only Howard -- himself a former MLS All-Star, for the MetroStars -- but defender Phil Neville, midfielders Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini and center back Joleon Lescott. Several of those players joined coach David Moyes when the team played RSL in an exhibition at Rice-Eccles Stadium nearly two years ago.

"I can't wait to play the MLS All-Stars," Howard said in a statement. "I will doubtless know a few of the guys in the U.S. team, and I know full well that it will be a real test for us at that stage of our preseason. The fans over there always enjoy watching English teams in action, and I'm sure there will be a terrific atmosphere in the stadium. We played in Salt Lake a couple of years ago, but it will be nice to go to the new one."

Since they began annually playing international opponents four years ago, the MLS All-Stars have not lost, having defeated Fulham, Chelsea and West Ham United of the English Premier League and Celtic of the Scottish Premier League, by a 10-3 combined score. Retired defender Eddie Pope is the only RSL player to have played in an All-Star Game.

"Obviously, to have what I would describe as a prestigious, elite Premier League team is very exciting news for the league and a great opportunity for Real Salt Lake fans to come out to the game and experience the best of MLS against a great opponent," Garber said. "I also believe that Rio Tinto Stadium has taken soccer stadiums to a higher level in this country, and to be able to profile that stadium internationally is a great opportunity for all of us."

mcl@sltrib.com

Ticket info:

Tickets to the Major League Soccer All-Star Game will go on sale to the general public May 9, at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office or at www.RioTintoStadium.com. Season-ticket holders for RSL can buy them now, however, with other league and corporate partners enjoying a priority window from Saturday until May 8.