2025 Sporting Kansas City season

Last updated

Sporting Kansas City
2025 season
Sporting Kansas City wordmark blue.png
Owner Sporting Club
Head coach Peter Vermes (until March 31)
Kerry Zavagnin (interim)
Stadium Children's Mercy Park
MLS Conference: TBD
Overall: TBD
Playoffs TBD
U.S. Open Cup TBD
CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One
Leagues Cup TBD
Top goalscorerLeague:
All: Memo Rodríguez (1)
  2024
2026  

The 2025 Sporting Kansas City season is the 30th season of the team's existence in Major League Soccer (MLS) and the 15th year played under the Sporting Kansas City moniker. The team began their season with a CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Inter Miami CF on February 18, 2025. They were eliminated in the first round of the competition. [1] After five losses in their first six MLS matches, Sporting Kansas City fired head coach Peter Vermes on March 31 after 15 seasons with the club. He was replaced by assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin as the interim head coach. [2]

Contents

Due to their participation in the Champions Cup, Sporting Kansas City will not play in the 2025 U.S. Open Cup or the 2025 Leagues Cup. They will instead send Sporting Kansas City II to play in the Open Cup alongside several other MLS Next Pro teams. [3]

Roster

As of February 22, 2025 [4]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA John Pulskamp
2 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ian James
3 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Andrew Brody
4 DF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Robert Voloder
5 DF Flag of Colombia.svg  COL Daniel Rosero
6 MF Flag of Serbia.svg  SRB Nemanja Radoja
8 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Memo Rodríguez
9 FW Flag of Serbia.svg  SRB Dejan Joveljić
10 FW Flag of Hungary.svg  HUN Dániel Sallói
11 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Khiry Shelton
12 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jack Kortkamp
13 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Mason Toye
14 DF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Tim Leibold
No.Pos.NationPlayer
15 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jansen Miller
16 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jacob Bartlett
17 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jake Davis
18 DF Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  BEL Logan Ndenbe
21 MF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Manu García
22 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Zorhan Bassong
23 FW Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA William Agada
24 DF Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Joaquín Fernández
26 MF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Erik Thommy
30 FW Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Stephen Afrifa
36 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ryan Schewe
93 FW Flag of Russia.svg  RUS Shapi Suleymanov

Exhibitions

Preseason

Sporting Kansas City released their preseason schedule and roster on January 13, 2025. [5]

Match results

January 181 FIU Panthers 1–0 Sporting Kansas City Miami, Florida
10:00 AM CST Soccerball shade.svg35' Report
Note: Played as two 30-minute halves.
January 252 Chicago Fire FC 2–0 Sporting Kansas City Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
11:00 AM CST Zinckernagel Soccerball shade.svg17'
Oregel Soccerball shade.svg74'
Report Stadium: The Gardens North County District Park
January 293 Charlotte FC 3–2 Sporting Kansas City Miami, Florida
10:00 AM CST Agyemang Soccerball shade.svg52', 56'
Cambridge Soccerball shade.svg86' (pen.)
Report Toye Soccerball shade.svg33'
Barlett Soccerball shade.svg59' (pen.)
Stadium: FIU Soccer Stadium
February 5 4 New York City FC 0–0 Sporting Kansas City Indio, California
5:00 PM CST Report Stadium: Empire Polo Club
February 9 5 Minnesota United FC 6–0 Sporting Kansas City Indio, California
1:30 PM CST Oluwaseyi Soccerball shade.svg10', 24'
Pereyra Soccerball shade.svg12'
Rosales Soccerball shade.svg18'
Yeboah Soccerball shade.svg45', 58'
Report Stadium: Empire Polo Club
February 126 Las Vegas Lights FC 0–0 Sporting Kansas City Indio, California
1:00 PM CST Report Stadium: Empire Polo Club

Competitive

Major League Soccer

Standings

Western Conference

MLS Western Conference table (2025)
PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
11 Real Salt Lake 2791442836831
12 FC Dallas 2771193947830
13 Sporting Kansas City 28715643571427
14 St. Louis City SC 28517633501721
15 LA Galaxy 27416732552319
Updated to match(es) played on August 31, 2025. Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Overall table
Overall MLS standings table (2025)
PosTeamPldWLTGFGAGDPts
22 New England Revolution 2881373640431
23 FC Dallas 2771193947830
24 Sporting Kansas City 28715643571427
25 Atlanta United FC 285121132491726
26 Toronto FC 28513102835725
Updated to match(es) played on August 31, 2025. Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)

Match results

February 221 Austin FC 1–0 Sporting Kansas City Austin, Texas
7:30 PM CST
Report
Stadium: Q2 Stadium
Attendance: 20,738
Referee: Chris Penso
March 12 Sporting Kansas City 1–2 San Jose Earthquakes Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 PM CST
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 16,277
Referee: Sergii Boiko
March 83 D.C. United 2–1 Sporting Kansas City Washington, D.C.
6:30 PM CST
Report
Stadium: Audi Field
Attendance: 15,183
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
March 154 Sporting Kansas City 3–3 Minnesota United FC Kansas City, Kansas
7:00 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 14,867
Referee: Joe Dickerson
March 225 Sporting Kansas City 0–2 Los Angeles FC Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 15,263
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
March 296 FC Dallas 2–1 Sporting Kansas City Frisco, Texas
7:30 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Toyota Stadium
Attendance: 11,004
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
April 5 7 Sporting Kansas City 2–0 St. Louis City SC Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 18,116
Referee: Tori Penso
April 138 Sporting Kansas City 2–4 Portland Timbers Kansas City, Kansas
1:00 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 17,898
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
April 199 San Jose Earthquakes 3–5 Sporting Kansas City San Jose, California
9:30 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: PayPal Park
Attendance: 14,147
Referee: Joe Dickerson
April 2610 FC Cincinnati 2–1 Sporting Kansas City Cincinnati, Ohio
2:30 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: TQL Stadium
Attendance: 25,513
Referee: Allen Chapman
May 411 Sporting Kansas City 1–0 LA Galaxy Kansas City, Kansas
7:00 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 17,902
Referee: Chris Penso
May 1012 Portland Timbers 1–0 Sporting Kansas City Portland, Oregon
9:30 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 21,287
Referee: Ricardo Fierro
May 14 13 St. Louis City SC 2–2 Sporting Kansas City St. Louis, Missouri
7:30 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Energizer Park
Attendance: 22,423
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
May 1714 San Diego FC 0–0 Sporting Kansas City San Diego, California
9:30 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Snapdragon Stadium
Attendance: 25,233
Referee: Victor Rivas
May 2415 Sporting Kansas City 3–3 New England Revolution Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 17,180
Referee: Sergii Boiko
May 3117 Houston Dynamo FC 1–3 Sporting Kansas City Houston, Texas
7:30 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Shell Energy Stadium
Attendance: 17,852
Referee: Jair Marrufo
June 816 Los Angeles FC 3–1 Sporting Kansas City Los Angeles, California
8:00 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: BMO Stadium
Attendance: 17,031
Referee: Ricardo Montero
Note: Match moved from May 28 due to Los Angeles FC's participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup playoff match.
June 1418 Sporting Kansas City 2–4 FC Dallas Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 17,144
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
June 2519 Sporting Kansas City 2–1 Charlotte FC Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 16,223
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
June 2820 Sporting Kansas City 1–1 Real Salt Lake Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 17,050
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
July 421 Colorado Rapids 1–2 Sporting Kansas City Commerce City, Colorado
8:30 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 17,576
Referee: Filip Dujic
July 1222 Sporting Kansas City 2–3 Seattle Sounders FC Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 16,717
Referee: Elijio Arreguin
July 1923 Sporting Kansas City 1–1 New York City FC Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 16,987
Referee: Timothy Ford
July 2624 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3–0 Sporting Kansas City Vancouver, British Columbia
9:30 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: BC Place
Attendance: 20,719
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
August 925 Sporting Kansas City 0–2 San Diego FC Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 16,579
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
August 1626 Orlando City SC 3–1 Sporting Kansas City Orlando, Florida
6:30 PM CDT Report Stadium: Inter&Co Stadium
Attendance: 20,026
Referee: Ricardo Montero
August 2427 Seattle Sounders FC 5–2 Sporting Kansas City Seattle, Washington
8:00 PM CDT
Report
Stadium: Lumen Field
Attendance: 30,184
Referee: Chris Penso
August 3028 Sporting Kansas City 4–2 Colorado Rapids Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 PM CDT
Report Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 16,262
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
September 729 Sporting Kansas City Austin FC Kansas City, Kansas
6:00 PM CDT Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
September 1330 Real Salt Lake Sporting Kansas City Sandy, Utah
8:30 PM CDT Stadium: America First Field
September 2031 Sporting Kansas City Vancouver Whitecaps FC Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 PM CDT Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
September 2732 LA Galaxy Sporting Kansas City Carson, California
9:30 PM CDT Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
October 433 Minnesota United FC Sporting Kansas City Saint Paul, Minnesota
7:30 PM CDT Stadium: Allianz Field
October 1834 Sporting Kansas City Houston Dynamo FC Kansas City, Kansas
8:00 PM CDT Stadium: Children's Mercy Park

U.S. Open Cup

Sporting Kansas City did not send their main squad to the U.S. Open Cup, but sent Sporting Kansas City II instead.

CONCACAF Champions Cup

Round One

February 19First leg Sporting Kansas City Flag of the United States.svg 0–1 Flag of the United States.svg Inter Miami CF Kansas City, Kansas
7:00 PM CST
Report
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 15,178
Referee: Marco Ortiz
Note: Due to expected winter weather issues in the Kansas City metropolitan area, the game was pushed back a day. [6]
February 25Second leg Inter Miami CF Flag of the United States.svg 3–1
(4–1 agg.)
Flag of the United States.svg Sporting Kansas City Fort Lauderdale, Florida
7:00 PM CST
Report Stadium: Chase Stadium
Attendance: 18,280
Referee: Ismael Cornejo
Note: Inter Miami CF won 4–1 on aggregate.

2025 Leagues Cup

Sporting Kansas City did not qualify for the 2025 Leagues Cup as they were not one of the top 9 teams in the Western Conference for the 2024 season.

References

  1. Thames, Alanis (February 25, 2025). "Lionel Messi strikes early, Inter Miami beats Sporting KC 3-1 to advance in Champions Cup". Associated Press . Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  2. Kerkhoff, Blair (April 1, 2025). "Why Sporting KC has 'never been in this situation before' with coaching search" . The Kansas City Star . Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  3. "All 30 Major League Soccer Clubs to Participate in North American Cup Competitions in 2025" (Press release). Major League Soccer. January 28, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  4. "Players | Sporting Kansas City". sportingkc.com. Sporting Kansas City. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  5. "Sporting KC announces schedule and roster for 2025 Preseason". SportingKC.com. Sporting Kansas City . Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  6. "Concacaf statement regarding the Champions Cup series between Sporting Kansas City and Inter Miami CF". Sporting Kansas City. February 17, 2025. Retrieved February 17, 2025.