Starting XI: Countdown to Kickoff

Starting XI 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.

Sporting KC lifts the curtains on the 2018 MLS regular season Sunday when the club hosts New York City FC in a marquee interconference matchup at 6:30 p.m. CT on FS1, Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM (Spanish).

Tickets for the season-opening clash are available at SeatGeek.com, and the first 15,000 fans through the stadium gates will get a free schedule magnet courtesy of match sponsor Children’s Mercy. Rally towels await all supporters in attendance, while Sporting KC Uphoria mobile app users will receive an offer card for free Oreo cookies at local participating Price Chopper locations.

The first By The Numbers preview of 2018 offers a statistical look at the fixture, while Five Things highlights what to look forward to on Sunday night.

2. Block Party

The countdown to kickoff continues Saturday with the Sporting KC Block Party at Town Center Plaza (5000 W 119th St, Leawood, KS 66209). The free event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. CT, featuring Sporting KC player appearances, live music, yard games, giveaways and more.

3. Pen to Paper

Sporting KC announced Tuesday that the club has signed goalkeeper Tim Melia, defender Ike Opara and forward Daniel Salloi to new contracts. Melia has signed a three-year deal through 2020, Opara has signed a two-year deal through 2019 with an option for 2020, and Salloi has signed a two-year deal with options for 2020 and 2021.

All three players enjoyed successful campaigns in 2017 as Sporting KC lifted the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and advanced to the MLS Cup Playoffs for a club-record seventh straight year. Melia and Opara were named the best MLS players at their respective positions last November, while Salloi scored six goals in his first full season with the club.

4. #Dress4MLS

Supporters are encouraged to show their club colors by wearing Sporting KC gear on Friday and sharing their photos/videos on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #Dress4MLS. Sporting KC will feature select posts throughout the day and Major League Soccer will pick one grand-prize winner for a trip to the 2018 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target in Atlanta.

5. TAM for GAM

Sporting KC announced today that the club has acquired $100,000 of General Allocation Money (GAM) in a trade with D.C. United. In exchange, D.C. United will receive $140,000 of Targeted Allocation Money (TAM). Click here for a full explanation of MLS roster rules and regulations.

6. Trio Departs

Sporting KC has waived three players this week ahead of the club’s season opener against New York City FC. The club parted ways with defender Kevin Ellis and forward Zach Wright on Tuesday before midfielder James Musa left to join USL side Phoenix Rising FC this afternoon. For a full list of Sporting KC’s offseason roster moves, visit SportingKC.com/tracker.

7. Walk and Talk

As Sporting KC concluded its 2018 preseason in Tucson, Arizona, FOX Sports KC color commentator Matt Lawrence caught up with newly signed Scottish winger Johnny Russell. Watch their full discussion below as Russell expresses excitement ahead of his first MLS campaign.

8. Radio Rewind

Three Sporting KC stars joined talk radio this week in advance of the team’s home opener. On Monday morning, captain Matt Besler joined The Border Patrol hosts Nate Bukaty and Steven St. John on Sports Radio 810 to reflect on the club's preseason campaign in Arizona and preview this weekend's battle with NYCFC. On Tuesday night, Bukaty welcomed fellow defender Graham Zusi for the season premiere of the Sporting KC Show, and this morning midfielder Roger Espinoza stopped by KC 102.1 FM.

9. Got the Power

With opening weekend on the immediate horizon, the MLSsoccer.com staff rolled out its first edition of 2018 Power Rankings on Tuesday. Sporting KC sits ninth in the newest poll, ranking fourth among Western Conference clubs behind Seattle Sounders FC (fourth), Portland Timbers (fifth) and Real Salt Lake. New York City FC — Sporting KC's opponent in Sunday's curtain raiser at Children's Mercy Park — is second behind reigning treble winner Toronto FC.

10. Off to Indiana

First-year head coach Paulo Nagamura has led the Swope Park Rangers into another week of preseason preparation ahead of the 2018 United Soccer League campaign. The Rangers fell 2-0 to Indy Eleven in Wednesday’s friendly at Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield, Indiana, and will return to the same venue at 8 p.m. CT Saturday to face NCAA power Indiana University. Rangers tickets for the 2018 USL season are on sale now via SeatGeek.com.

11. Southbound

The Sporting KC U-15s, U-17s and U-19s continue their Development Academy campaigns this weekend with a pair of doubleheaders in the state of Texas. Sporting KC will meet Lonestar SC at Round Rock Multipurpose Complex on Saturday before facing the Houston Dynamo at Houston Sports Park on Sunday. Follow the Sporting KC Academy on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat (skcacademy) for all the latest information on the club's five youth development teams.

Games to Watch (March 2-4, 2018)