Starting XI: Desert Double-dip

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 used a pair of goals from Homegrown Player on Saturday to make a winning start to the club’s 2018 preseason, presented by Children’s Mercy. Daniel Salloi and Gianluca Busio found the back of the net to pace a 2-1 victory over a squad of Phoenix Rising FC trialists in Scottsdale, Arizona, marking Sporting KC’s official return to action after a three-month offseason.

2. Desert Double-dip

A pair of friendlies highlight Sporting KC’s second week of preseason training as Manager Peter Vermes’ men will face UPSL side Sporting Arizona at 12 p.m. CT Wednesday and fellow MLS outfit Colorado Rapids at 11:30 a.m. CT Saturday. Follow @SportingKC and @SKCMatchday on Twitter for live updates of both contests.

3. Get ‘Em While They’re Hot

On Thursday, single-game tickets for Sporting KC’s first 10 regular season home matches will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. CT via SeatGeek.com. In addition, Sporting KC Season Ticket Members may purchase single-game tickets for all 17 regular season home matches during an exclusive pre-sale starting at 10 a.m. CT today.

4. Prime Exposure

Sporting KC’s first week of preseason training produced a variety of stellar scenes in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona. With players back in the full swing, SportingKC.com created a story-telling photo gallery via EXPOSURE that captures some of the best moments in week one.

5. Ike’s Excellent Debut

Sporting KC defender Ike Opara earned his debut for the U.S. Men’s National Team on Sunday night, starting and playing the full 90 minutes in a scoreless draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina at StubHub Center in Carson, California.

Opara delivered a sterling performance in central defense, anchoring a U.S. backline that limited Bosnia and Herzegovina to just two shots on target. The 2017 MLS Defender of the Year finished the contest with four recoveries, four interceptions and two clearances in addition to making a crucial defensive block in the 79th minute to keep the Bosnians at bay.

6. Rangers Resume

Back-to-back USL Cup finalists Swope Park Rangers have officially kicked off their third professional season this week. Now led by head coach Paulo Nagamura, SPR will opened preseason training Tuesday afternoon at Swope Soccer Village.

7. Welcome to Miami

After a long and sometimes tenuous wait, today Major League Soccer finally granted Miami an MLS expansion team. The announcement was made at an event held in Miami's Adrienne Arsht Center, featuring the club's ownership group comprised of local and global entrepreneurs including soccer icon and former MLS player David Beckham and Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure. Additional news and information about the club – including its debut season in MLS, team name, logo and staff – will be announced in the future. More information on Miami’s new MLS club can be found at FutbolMiamiMLS.com.

8. Orlando Snags Meram

Columbus Crew SC announced today that the club has acquired more than $1 million in allocation money from Orlando City SC in exchange for winger Justin Meram. The move comes a week after Crew SC dealt striker Ola Kamara to the LA Galaxy in exchange for allocation money and forward Gyasi Zardes. Meram joins Orlando after a stellar 2017 campaign in which he recorded 13 goals and seven assists.

9. Ibra’s Galaxy?

ESPNFC reported on Sunday night that world-class forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic is on the brink of joining the LA Galaxy. According to the report, the prolific Swedish striker would not count as a Designated with LA able to acquire him via Targeted Allocation Money. Ibrahimovic, 36, has scored more than 400 goals during a trophy-laden professional career that began in 1999.

10. Auba to Arsenal?

According to reports in Europe, English Premier League club Arsenal FC are on the verge of acquiring Borussia Dortmund star forward Pierre Emerick Aubameyang in a winter transfer of more than $80 million. The 28-year-old Aubameyang, currently a teammate of U.S. international Christian Pulisic, has bagged 141 goals for Dortmund since joining the German outfit in 2013.

11. Helping Hand

Sporting KC and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City are teaming up once again in 2018 to recognize Blue KC Sporting Samaritans, honoring students and teachers who make the Kansas City community a better place to live, work and play. Once a month, a Samaritan will be recognized on the pitch at Children's Mercy Park before a Sporting KC home game. The Samaritan and a limited number of guests will receive a behind the scenes VIP experience with a wide variety of all-inclusive perks. Supporters can nominate members of their community to be the next Blue KC Sporting Samaritan at SportingKC.com/bluekc.

Games to Watch (Jan. 30 - Feb. 1)