Starting XI: Best in Class

Starting XI, presented by StorageMart, is a biweekly series on SportingKC.com that highlights 11 of the biggest storylines and news updates from Sporting Kansas City, MLS and soccer around the globe. Click here to visit the Starting XI archive.

A five-game winless skid in MLS action has seen Sporting KC (9-6-6, 33 points) drop to fifth place in the Western Conference, but an opportunity to bounce back presents itself Saturday when Manager Peter Vermes' men visit rivals Houston Dynamo (7-8-6, 27 points) at BBVA Compass Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. CT with three hours of live coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. on FOX Sports Kansas City Plus, FOX Sports Midwest Plus and FOX Sports GO. The game will also be broadcast live on Sports Radio 810 WHB and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM.

2. Gather at the Pub

All supporters are welcome to the official watch party for Saturday's game at No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District (1370 Grand Blvd.). From 7:30 p.m. CT until the final whistle, No Other Pub will offer $6 Till Vodka cocktails and an all-you-can-eat buffet with endless soda and domestic draft beers.

3. Best in Class

Sporting KC midfielder Ilie Sanchez and defender Graham Zusi played 45 minutes each in the 2018 MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday night, helping the MLS All-Stars to a 1-1 stalemate before falling 5-3 on penalty kicks to Italian powerhouse Juventus.

Ilie and Zusi entered as halftime substitutes with the score tied 1-1 as a raucous crowd of 72,317 descended on Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for the summer showcase that pitted Major League Soccer's best players against one of the best clubs in the world. Wednesday's attendance was the largest ever for a stand-alone MLS All-Star Game.

4. Rising Stars

Sporting KC defender Jaylin Lindsey and midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal logged 45 minutes each as the MLS Homegrown Team battled the Tigres UANL U-20s to a 1-1 draw in the 2018 MLS Homegrown Game on Tuesday night at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground in Marietta, Georgia.

Lindsey played the first half as the MLS Homegrown Team surged ahead on the stroke of halftime with a goal from Toronto FC's Liam Fraser. Kuzain then came off the bench for the second stanza, with the Tigres U-20s drawing level on an indirect free kick finished off by Adrian Garza in the 77th minute.

5. Block Party

Sporting KC invites all fans to the First Fridays Block Party this Friday in the Crossroads Arts District (2020 Baltimore Ave., Kansas City, MO). The free event will run from 5-9 p.m. CT, featuring yard games, free beer and a food and beverage pairing, and the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a free Sporting KC sampling glass. The food and beverage pairing will take place from 5-7 p.m. CT, while beverage stations and yard games will be open for the duration of the event. In addition, SportingStyle merchandise will be available for purchase. Click here to RSVP to the summer celebration.

6. SoCal Swing

The Swope Park Rangers (9-7-6, 33 points) earned a 1-1 road draw against LA Galaxy II (5-11-5, 20 points) on Wednesday. A 51st-minute goal from Hadji Barry and a penalty kick save from Adrian Zendejas spurred the Rangers to a valuable point at StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium. SPR's two-game tour of Southern California concludes Saturday night when head coach Paulo Nagamura's men face second-place Orange County SC (11-6-5, 38 points) at Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine. The Western Conference clash will kick off at 9 p.m. CT and stream live on ESPN+.

7. Getting the Call

Sporting KC Academy forward Tyler Freeman has joined the U.S. U-17 Men's National Team for an international training camp featuring four games from Aug. 2-13 in San Jose, Costa Rica, where the Americans will play Concacaf rivals Mexico and Costa Rica twice each.

Freeman, 15, is the youngest player in the 23-man squad assembled by U.S. U-17 head coach John Hackworth. The forward is also one of four players to earn his first call-up at the U-17 level, having helped the U.S. U-16s to a third-place finish at the prestigious Torneo Delle Nazioni in Italy in April. Freeman is the only player born in 2003 on a talented team that will play four games over a seven-day period in San Jose.

8. Weatherman

Here's something you won't see every day.

As part of a busy media week at MLS All-Star Atlanta, Sporting KC midfielder Ilie Sanchez appeared on The Weather Channel with FOX Soccer analyst and former U.S. international Alexi Lalas on Tuesday.

The end result, quite predictably, was more comedic than weather-informative. Here's how it unfolded.

9. Headliners

Aside from #HOUvSKC on Saturday night, Kansas City soccer fans will have the opportunity to catch even more live action as Major League Soccer presents two nationally televised matches in Week 23. At 3 p.m. CT Saturday, Supporters' Shield leaders Atlanta United FC will host reigning champions Toronto FC on ESPN. The following day, the New York Red Bulls will welcome LAFC for a mouthwatering interconference clash at 5 p.m. CT on FS1.

10. Alekzandur the Great

Competing under the gamer name Alekzandur, 19-year-old Kansas City native Alex Betancourt is competing at the 2018 FIFA eWorld Cup Grand Final this week at The O2 Arena in London. Alekzandur, one of 32 finalists who qualified via the FIFA 18 Global Series, is battling it out for the main prize – the title of FIFA eWorld Cup champion, $250,000 in prize money and a trip to the Best FIFA Football Awards this fall. Live scores and streams will be available on fifa.gg, with the group stage taking place today and tomorrow morning and the knockout rounds set for tomorrow afternoon and Saturday.

11. Up for Grabs

A prestigious women's competition that kicked off last Thursday in Kansas City will crown a champion tonight as the 2018 Tournament of Nations comes to a close at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois. Australia takes on Japan at 4:45 p.m. CT before the U.S. Women's National Team battles Brazil at 7:30 p.m. CT live on FS1. The USA and Australia are tied with four points each through two games, and remain in contention for the tournament title alongside Brazil (three points). Only Japan is eliminated going into the final matchday after two consecutive losses.

Games to Watch (Aug. 2-5, 2018)