In 2021, Sporting Kansas City enjoyed a winning record on the road (8-7-2, 26 points) for a second straight season. 2022 presents 17 opportunities for Sporting KC to replicate its past success away from home. Sporting opens the 2022 MLS regular season on the road, heading south to face Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, Feb 27.
While the My Five contest presented by Hollywood Casino is for home matches only, listed below are five road matches Sporting fans can look forward to. With these matches relatively close, and true Midwesterners never backing down from a road trip, here are five road trip worthy matches on Sporting’s 2022 schedule. (Drive times may vary. Estimates were taken from Children’s Mercy Park to the opponents’ stadiums)
Saturday, Mar. 12: Colorado Rapids - (~Eight-hour drive)
Sporting KC’s western neighbor, the Colorado Rapids, finished the 2021 MLS regular season atop the Western Conference. After earning a round one bye in the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, the Rapids were knocked out of the playoffs by the eventual Western Conference Champion Portland Timbers. As two MLS originals, Sporting and Colorado have clashed on 70 occasions with Sporting holding a slight series lead (28-24-18). The two have fought to four straight draws at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park so a competitive match can be expected. With the drive to Denver from Kansas City being about eight hours on i70, Sporting KC fans can enjoy some time in the Rocky Mountains before catching the match.
Saturday, Mar. 19: Chicago Fire (~Eight-hour drive)
When longtime foes Sporting KC and the Chicago Fire face off in 2022 it will mark the 58th time these two clubs lock horns. After 14 years away, the Fire returned to Soldier Field ahead of the 2020 MLS season, still calling the historic stadium home today. Sporting will enter the match with three consecutive results at Soldier Field and six consecutive results against the Fire overall. These two teams trace their history back to the founding of MLS. Sporting famously defeated the Fire in the 2000 MLS Cup claiming the Supporter’s Shield and MLS Cup in the same season. With Chicago just under eight hours of driving away, Sporting fans can grab a slice of Chicago-style pizza en route to the match.
Sunday, June 19: Nashville (~Eight-hour drive)
For the first time since a 1998 US Open Cup match against the Nashville Metros, Sporting KC will play a match in the Music City. Sporting and Nashville have only met once since the Tennessee side joined MLS as an expansion side in 2020. Nashville joined the Western Conference ahead of the 2022 season meaning these two teams will meet twice in the regular season. On May 1, 2022, Nashville will open the largest soccer-specific stadium in America. Sporting will get the chance to break in Nashville’s new stadium in June. With Nashville just a hop, skip and a jump away, fans can enjoy some country music on Lower Broadway before watching Sporting in MLS’ newest stadium.
Wednesday, July 13: Minnesota United (~Six-hour drive)
Sporting KC’s closest geographic opponent has become a bit of a rival over the last few seasons. Sporting matched up with the Loons on three occasions in 2021, winning one, drawing one and losing one. Minnesota’s Allianz Field opened in 2019 and has been a large part of the Loons’ success as the club has lost just six matches at the 19,400 seat stadium. Minnesota will also host the 2022 MLS All-Star Game a month later on Aug. 10. With the Twin Cities being the closest MLS city to Kansas City, and fans not having to brave the Minnesota winter, Sporting fans can enjoy the land of 10,000 lakes before the midweek match.
Saturday, Aug. 13: Austin (~Ten-hour drive)
This is the longest drive out of the five, but one worth the time. Led by head coach and Sporting Legend Josh Wolff, Austin joined MLS as the league’s 27th expansion franchise. While still coming into their own as a team, Austin has made its mark on MLS with a fantastic atmosphere at Q2 Stadium. The stadium opened in 2021 and has already hosted multiple US Men’s National Team matches and a Concacaf Gold Cup Semifinal. Fans can eat some barbecue that is not as good as Kansas City’s, enjoy Austin’s many lakes and listen to tons of live music before experiencing a Sporting KC match in Q2 Stadium.
Aside from these five road matches, Sporting will travel to 12 other destinations including; Los Angeles, Montreal, New York City, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver and more.
While these are some of the closer matches fans can become a part of the Roadron whenever and wherever they want. Tickets for all Sporting Kansas City matches are available at SeatGeek.com.
