Sporting Kansas City was announced on Thursday as one of five Major League Soccer teams confirmed to compete in the Desert Showcase presented by Visit Tucson during the 2022 MLS preseason campaign.
Sporting will take on the Colorado Rapids at 4 p.m. MT on Saturday, Jan. 29 at Kino North Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. Tickets for the exhibition can be ordered online and will go on sale to the general public beginning at 1 p.m. MT on Friday, Dec. 31.
Fellow Western Conference clubs Houston Dynamo FC, Real Salt Lake and Seattle Sounders FC will also participate in the Desert Showcase. Additional teams and match-ups for the 12th annual event will be announced in the near future.
“For more than a decade, FC Tucson has brought some of the best teams in the United States to Tucson,” said Amanda Powers, president of FC Tucson. “With the help of Visit Tucson and Rio Nuevo, we are excited about the opportunity to expand this event and show the passion of our region, and bring the community together around the game of soccer.”
“Rio Nuevo is excited to support this first-class sporting event, welcoming the players and fans to come eat and play in beautiful downtown Tucson,” said Rio Nuevo Board member Edmund Marquez.
Sporting will travel to Arizona from Jan. 17 to Feb. 19 for the team's 2022 preseason presented by Children's Mercy. Sporting Kansas City will kick off the 2022 Major League Soccer regular season on Sunday, Feb. 27 at Atlanta United FC before hosting the club's home opener on Saturday, March 5 against Houston Dynamo FC at Children's Mercy Park.
