Save the dates; our time awaits. We the fans have our travel plans. Book the flights to the sites; we have our sights on Saturday nights.
One of the most anticipated dates of the offseason calendar arrived Tuesday as Major League Soccer released the 2023 MLS regular season schedule, featuring the unprecedented launch of MLS Season Pass as supporters gear up for an innovative broadcast package featuring the most comprehensive slate of matches and programming in league history.
Better yet, Sporting Kansas City fans can finally plan their 2023 around the club’s full fixture list, which includes 17 matches at world-class Children’s Mercy Park. To secure your seats for the upcoming campaign, visit SportingKC.com/tickets.
With just over two months until Sporting kick off their 28th campaign as a proud MLS charter member, we provide a rapid-fire rundown of all 34 regular season matches in the space below. From fun facts and statistical nuggets to can’t-miss storylines and must-see players, there is plenty to be pumped about heading into 2023.
Saturday, Feb. 25 at Portland Timbers | 9:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
Sporting’s opener at Portland on Feb. 25 will mark the earliest start to an MLS regular season in league history. It will also be the club’s first match on MLS Season Pass, the new subscription service on Apple that will show every live MLS match—regular season and playoffs included—as well as the newly expanded Leagues Cup, all with no regional blackouts. MLS Season Pass will launch on Feb. 1.
Saturday, March 4 at Colorado Rapids | 8:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
Behold, Sporting’s best chance at a snow game in 2023. Denver’s average low temperatures in March hover around 25 degrees. Will that stop the Sporting faithful from showing up by the hundreds? I don’t think so.
Saturday, March 11 vs. LA Galaxy | 7:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
A home opener against one of our longtime historical rivals? Sign us up! Sporting boast a fantastic 14-1-4 record in March home matches at Children’s Mercy Park.
Saturday, March 18 at FC Dallas | 7:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
Sporting have three regular season road wins at FC Dallas over the last five seasons. No other MLS opponent has more than one during that time. Dallas has gone 42-12-26 at Toyota Stadium since 2018, with three losses to Sporting and one loss to nine other foes.
Saturday, March 25 vs. Seattle Sounders FC | 7:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
A missed 2022 postseason aside, the Sounders have cemented themselves as an MLS power with four conference titles in seven years. Their kryptonite, however, just might be Sporting, who own a 9-4-3 record in the last 16 meetings since 2015.
Saturday, April 1 at Philadelphia Union | 6:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
On paper, this could be the toughest fixture of the season. The reigning Eastern Conference champion Union were an absolute buzzsaw at home last year, going 14-0-5 in MLS matches (including playoffs) and outscoring opponents by an absurd aggregate score of 53-10.
Saturday, April 8 vs. Colorado Rapids | 7:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
By and large, the Rapids have not enjoyed their travels to Kansas City over the last three decades. Sporting are 23-6-6 at home against Colorado in the regular season, their best home record against any MLS charter member.
Saturday, April 15 at San Jose Earthquakes | 9:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
The Earthquakes will be led by newly appointed head coach Luchi Gonzalez, who earlier this month helped the U.S. Men’s National team reach the World Cup knockout stage as an assistant. Gonzalez previously led Dallas to consecutive playoff appearances in 2019 and 2020.
Saturday, April 22 at New England Revolution | 6:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
Sporting are set to visit Gillette Stadium for the first time in almost exactly five years. It was then and continues to be best known as the house that Tom Brady built, though the Revs did use the cavernous turf venue to their advantage in 2021 by winning the Supporters’ Shield.
Saturday, April 29 vs. CF Montreal | 7:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
CF Montreal were the surprise outfit in 2022, coming within three points of the Supporters’ Shield title. But it’s been a tough go since then, as the team have lost head coach Wilfried Nancy to Columbus and sold rising stars Djordje Mihailovic, Alistair Johnston and Ismael Kone to clubs in Europe.
Sunday, May 7 at Seattle Sounders FC | 3:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass, FOX, FOX Deportes
Sporting are no strangers to success at Lumen Field, as their three road wins over the Sounders since August 2019 are the most in MLS. This will be Sporting’s first of three matches on national linear television, airing on FOX.
Saturday, May 13 vs. Minnesota United FC | 7:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
The Loons want nothing to do with Children’s Mercy Park. Sporting are a perfect 7-0-0 in regular season home games against Minnesota, scoring 19 goals and conceding just two. Can Vermes’ side keep the streak alive as Rivalry Week kicks off?
Wednesday, May 17 at LAFC | 9:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
Fasten your seatbelts. This midweek matchup has no shortage of flair, with Sporting making a Hollywood trip to reigning MLS Cup champion LAFC. Carlos Vela, Denis Bouanga, Cristian Arango and Gareth Bale headline a formidable attack, but Sporting won’t be deterred. They have won twice in five previous trips to Banc of California Stadium.
Saturday, May 20 at St. Louis City SC | 8:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass, FS1, FOX Deportes
And here. We. Go. The inaugural chapter of Sporting’s long-awaited rivalry with expansion side St. Louis City SC will unfold May 20 at Citypark in downtown St. Louis. This will arguably be the state of Missouri’s most anticipated soccer match of the century.
Sunday, May 28 vs. Portland Timbers | 2 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass, FOX, FOX Deportes
The lone FOX broadcast at Children’s Mercy Park comes on Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial start of summer. Get this: Sporting will play home matches in five of the first six weekends of the traditional summer, treating fans and families to an ideal month of action in the Soccer Capital.
Wednesday, May 31 vs. FC Dallas | 7:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
Dallas are 4-0-2 in their last six regular season visits to Children’s Mercy Park. It’s time to put an end to this nonsense.
Saturday, June 3 at Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 9:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
Sporting’s lone visit to Canada could come at the busiest of times. If Sporting advance to the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals—currently slated for June 6 or 7—they will be required to play 11 matches in a 35-day period from May 7 to June 10, including five straight midweek fixtures.
Saturday, June 10 vs. Austin FC | 7:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
Austin FC were easy on the eyes in 2022, scoring nearly two goals per game behind MLS MVP candidate Sebastian Driussi and head coach Josh Wolff, a Sporting Legend in his own right.
Saturday, June 17 vs. LAFC | 7:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
Alas, Sporting’s second blockbuster home match in as many weekends. Seven days after hosting Austin, Vermes’ side will welcome the MLS Cup champs in what will be one of the most anticipated battles of the summer.
Wednesday, June 21 at LA Galaxy | 9:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
Five weeks after their first midweek visit to LA, Sporting will return to SoCal for a Wednesday clash against Chicharito and the Galaxy. Vermes’ men have lost just once in their last six trips to Dignity Health Sports Park.
Saturday, June 24 vs. Chicago Fire FC | 7:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
Chicago playmaker and Swiss World Cup veteran Xherdan Shaqiri could make his Children’s Mercy Park debut facing the wrong side of history. Sporting are 7-0-2 in their last nine home matches against Chicago, including wins in five straight.
Saturday, July 1 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 7:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
Two maddening 1-0 losses to Vancouver in 2022 will not be lost on a Sporting side that caught fire late last season but finished below the playoff line. Sporting’s final weekend home game until late August will provide an opportunity to avenge those defeats.
Saturday, July 8 at Houston Dynamo FC | 7:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
Enjoy spending time in the sauna? A roaddron to Houston in July is right up your alley!
Wednesday, July 12 vs. Real Salt Lake | 7:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
Longtime Sporting fans will know how unlikable Real Salt Lake have been for the last decade. Any opportunity to beat RSL at home—as Sporting did in the 2013 MLS Cup—should be relished.
Saturday, July 15 at Austin FC | 7:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
The Q2 Stadium experience is a must for all soccer fans willing to travel, and Austin is an easy trip from Kansas City. This will be Sporting’s last league match for six weeks, as the regular season will pause during a gargantuan Leagues Cup competition involving all MLS and LIGA MX clubs.
Saturday, Aug. 26 vs. San Jose Earthquakes | 7:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
There’s a chance Sporting could be fresh off a Leagues Cup title when they host San Jose at the end of August. There’s also a chance the team will be returning after an extended break if they don’t advance deep into the knockout stage. Nevertheless, the stretch run of the MLS regular season will be a welcome sight.
Saturday, Sept. 2 vs. St. Louis City SC | 7:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
The hottest ticket and the most electric atmosphere of the regular season? Almost certainly. St. Louis City SC’s first visit to Kansas City will have Children’s Mercy Park buzzing. This game will have a cup final feel regardless of where these teams sit in the table on Sept. 2. Inject this into my veins.
Saturday, Sept. 9 at Inter Miami CF | 6:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
With a FIFA World Cup in his pocket, could the G.O.A.T. be on his way to MLS? Rumors have linked global icon Lionel Messi to Inter Miami, and if a summer deal materializes, the magisterial Argentine could be poised for his greatest honor yet on Sept. 9: sharing the field with Sporting Kansas City.
Saturday, Sept. 16 at Minnesota United FC | 7:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
This match will come almost exactly a year after Sporting sledgehammered Minnesota in 2022. In a dominant 4-1 win, newcomers Willy Agada and Erik Thommy both found the back fo the net. Agada and Thommy, who were instrumental in Sporting’s late-season turnaround, could be poised for monster sophomore campaigns in MLS.
Wednesday, Sept. 20 vs. Nashville SC | 7:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
Nashville SC’s vaunted backline features a pair of U.S. World Cup veterans Walker Zimmerman and Shaq Moore. But don’t forget that Sporting’s attack could be loaded like never before in 2023. Agada, Thommy, Johnny Russell and Daniel Salloi will join Designated Player returnees Alan Pulido and Gadi Kinda to form what could be—if everyone stays healthy—one of the most lethal arsenals in MLS.
Saturday, Sept. 23 vs. Houston Dynamo FC | 9:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
There was a time, over a decade ago, in which Houston had Sporting’s number. That is no longer the case. Sporting are 8-3-3 in the last 14 regular season meetings.
Saturday, Sept. 30 at St. Louis City SC | 7:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
If Roaddron tickets were too hard to come by for Sporting’s first trip to St. Louis on May 20, here’s a second chance. The third and final matchup between the clubs will not only kindle the flames of a fledgling rivalry, but potentially have postseason implications.
Saturday, Oct. 7 at Real Salt Lake | 8:30 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
With the calendar turning to October, Sporting and Salt Lake could be battling for playoff seeding. On Decision Day 2020, Sporting prevailed 2-0 in Utah to seal first place in the West. On Decision Day 2021, RSL stole a 1-0 win at Children’s Mercy Park to deny Sporting a second straight first-place finish. These teams know what it’s like to duke it out late in the year.
Saturday, Oct. 21 vs. Minnesota United FC | 8 p.m. CT | MLS Season Pass
Decision Day at Children’s Mercy Park always makes for a festive atmosphere. The fact that nearby rivals Minnesota will be the opponent—remember, the Loons have lost on all seven regular season visits to Kansas City—makes the occasion that much bigger.
