Sporting Kansas City returns home for the final occasion in 2024 this weekend when the team hosts Los Angeles FC in the club’s home finale at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and will be available to stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV. The match will be available on the radio locally on ESPN 94.5 FM (English) and La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish). Tickets are available via SeatGeek.com.
1. HOME FINALE AT CHILDREN’S MERCY PARK
Sporting Kansas City returns home for the final time in 2024 this weekend, hosting Los Angeles FC at Children’s Mercy Park in the club’s home finale that will also serve as the team’s Fan Appreciation Night.
As part of Fan Appreciation Night, Sporting is offering 50 percent off primary jerseys, 25 percent off Wizards gear, 50 percent off value menu items, $2 off canned beer, free popcorn, a $10 Sporting Pay happy hour, lucky row specials, t-shirt toss, giveaways and more.
The match marks an immediate opportunity for revenge for Sporting, having suffered a devastating 3-1 defeat in extra time to LAFC in the U.S. Open Cup Final just 10 days ago at BMO Stadium in California. While Sporting earned some much-needed rest by having a bye during the midweek slate of matches this week, LAFC is arriving in Kansas City having seen off St. Louis at BMO Stadium on Wednesday night.
Sporting have been officially eliminated from MLS Cup Playoffs contention heading into the club’s final two matches of the season - vs. LAFC on Saturday and at Dallas on Decision Day - and are facing an LAFC side primed to finish near the summit of the Western Conference.
2. REMATCH WITH LAFC
Sporting Kansas City is set to take on Los Angeles FC in an immediate rematch of the U.S. Open Cup Final this weekend when the two sides face off in Sporting’s home finale at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night.
Sporting and LAFC have met twice already in 2024, facing off early in the season as Sporting earned a point during a 0-0 draw at BMO Stadium on March 9, 2024, limiting a potent LAFC attack to 15 shots on home turf as Tim Melia made six saves in his first shutout of the season.
Sporting then returned to BMO Stadium on Sept. 25, 2024 for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final, falling to a heartbreaking 3-1 extra-time defeat. After Olivier Giroud had given LAFC the lead, Erik Thommy responded for Sporting to take the game to extra time. Substitutes Omar Campos and Kei Kamara both found the net in extra time to make the difference for the hosts as Sporting lost their first-ever Open Cup final.
Sporting last hosted LAFC at Children’s Mercy Park on June 17, 2023. Alan Pulido gave Sporting the lead from the penalty spot that night before Denil Maldonado equalized early in the second half and LAFC legend Carlos Vela pounced for a late winner to give the visitors a 2-1 victory.
Sporting trails the all-time series with LAFC 4-6-3, including a 2-3-0 mark at home.
3. AFRIFA CONTINUES BREAKOUT SEASON
Sporting Kansas City forward Stephen Afrifa continued his breakout season this past weekend, finding the back of the net with a Goal of the Week contender in the club’s 3-1 loss to St. Louis at Citypark last Saturday.
Afrifa stepped onto a pass from Jake Davis 20 yards from goal and curled a sumptuous strike beyond the reach of Roman Burki in the St. Louis goal to get Sporting back into the game in the 63rd minute.
Stephen Afrifa now has six goals this season in all competitions - fourth most on the team, only trailing William Agada (11), Alan Pulido (8) and Erik Thommy (8). Sporting also leads MLS with 13 goals from outside the box during the 2024 regular season.
Afrifa joined Sporting as the eighth overall pick in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft out of Florida International University and has enjoyed a breakout in his sophomore season, tallying four goals in MLS play along with strikes in the U.S. Open Cup and Leagues Cup, while also recording three assists.
4. DAVIS MAKING MIDFIELD SPOT HIS OWN
Sporting Kansas City Academy product Jake Davis made an impactful midseason switch in 2024, shifting from right back to his customary central midfield position that he played in the club’s Academy and second team.
Davis - who wore the captain's armband for the first time in his young career - made a rare start at right back this past weekend in the club’s 3-1 loss to St. Louis at Citypark on Saturday night, but shifted back into central midfield with his side 2-0 down in the 59th minute. Davis provided an immediate spark for Sporting and set up Stephen Afrifa to cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 63rd minute before ultimately falling to a 3-1 loss.
With the assist, Davis has six goal contributions in his last six matches across all competitions (one goal, five assists), while he now has 11 goal contributions on the season (three goals, eight assists). He had two goal contributions prior to this season.
5. SKC SIGNS MILES THROUGH SPORTING WISHES PROGRAM
The Victory Project, the philanthropic arm of Sporting Kansas City, and Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas have partnered to grant a longtime wish for local child Miles, a resident of De Soto, Kansas.
Miles, who has an endocrine disorder, celebrated his 11th birthday on Thursday with a comprehensive Sporting KC experience - meeting the team, watching training and signing as Sporting’s newest player during a press conference alongside Manager Peter Vermes and captain Johnny Russell.
During Saturday’s match against LAFC, Miles will enter the stadium alongside Russell, join the team in the locker room pregame and participate in the captain’s coin toss and Sporting’s team photo.
Miles is an avid Sporting supporter who plays youth soccer despite his medical challenges. Russell, now in his fourth season as the club’s captain, is one of Miles’ favorite players on the team. The Victory Project launched the Sporting Wishes initiative in 2017 and earlier this year enhanced the effort through a new partnership with Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas.
