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.
1. Barath Abroad
Sporting Kansas City defender Botond Barath has been selected to the Hungary Men’s National Team for two matches during the November FIFA window, including the Magyars’ pivotal UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying finale against Wales.
Barath and the Magyars will first host South American power Uruguay in a friendly on Friday, Nov. 15, at the brand-new Puskas Arena in Budapest. The inaugural match at the world-class, 67,889-seat stadium is slated for noon CT. Hungary will then prepare for an all-important UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier at Wales on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Cardiff City Stadium, kicking off at 1:45 p.m. CT with live streams on ESPN3 and the ESPN App.
2. Hasler Hustle
Sporting Kansas City defender Nico Hasler has joined the Liechtenstein Men’s National Team for its final two matches in Group J of UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying during the November FIFA window.
Liechtenstein will visit Finland at 11 a.m. CT on Friday, Nov. 15, at Telia 5G Arena in Helsinki before hosting Bosnia and Herzegovina at 1:45 p.m. CT on Monday, Nov. 18, at Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz. Both games will stream live on ESPN3 and the ESPN App.
3. Holiday Shopping Experience
SportingStyle will host its highly anticipated Holiday Shopping Experience from 5-8 p.m. CT on Thursday, inviting fans of all ages to the Sporting Gallery at 2020 Baltimore Ave. in the historic Crossroads Arts District near downtown Kansas City.
The Holiday Shopping Experience will give supporters the unique opportunity to shop the new holiday collection of Sporting Kansas City merchandise before anyone else. The most exclusive SportingStyle event of 2019 will also give guests $50 off if they spend $200 or more. To RSVP to the Holiday Shopping Experience, please email stylist@sportingkc.com.
4. Filling the Cup
MLS Cup 2019 will take place Sunday at 2 p.m. CT as Seattle Sounders FC hosts Toronto FC at CenturyLink Field. The highly anticipated contest will air live nationally on ABC and Univision, effectively serving as a rubber match after Seattle and Toronto previously met in the 2016 and 2017 editions of MLS Cup. Seattle prevailed on penalties in 2016 before the Reds exacted revenge the following year, with both matchups unfolding at BMO Field in Toronto.
5. Matchday Central
Matchday Central has fans covered in the buildup to and aftermath of MLS Cup between Toronto FC and Seattle Sounders FC, with four shows set for Friday through Sunday. Click here for the full schedule of Matchday Central programming, available for streaming on MLSsoccer.com, the MLS App and the league's Twitter, Facebook and YouTube channels.
6. Jaylin's Pod
Want to learn more about Sporting defender Jaylin Lindsey? In Episode 7 of the Nutmeg Podcast with Josh Klingler of 610 Sports Radio, the 19-year-old right back discusses overcoming a long-term knee injury that sidelined him for much of 2019, his journey from North Carolina to Kansas City as an Academy player, and off-the-field interests such as cooking and video gaming with his fellow teammates.
7. Kuzain on Twitch
Sporting Kansas City Homegrown midfielder Wan Kuzain will join club commentator and sideline reporter Carter Augustine in a FIFA 20 Twitch stream on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT. Supporters can watch the live stream by visiting twitch.tv/eSportingKC as Kuzain and Augustine attempt to progress from Division 8 to Division 7 in the world's most popular soccer video game on PlayStation 4.
8. Crowned at Swope
Last weekend’s quarterfinal round of the 24th annual Big 12 Soccer Championship at Swope Soccer Village saw four women's programs punch their tickets to the semifinals, which will take place Friday ahead of the championship match on Sunday afternoon.
Top-seeded Oklahoma State, No. 5 seed Kansas, second-seeded Texas Tech and No. 6 seed TCU all prevailed by slim margins in the opening round, setting up a semifinal Friday doubleheader that pits Oklahoma State and Kansas at 4:30 p.m. CT and Texas Tech versus TCU at 7 p.m. CT. Single-day passes for the Big 12 Soccer Championship are on sale for $5, and fans interested in attending can purchase tickets by emailing Zach Layton at the Kansas City Sports Commission at zlayton@sportkc.org.
9. Rocky Road
The Sporting Kansas City U-15s, U-17s and U-19s will travel to the state of Colorado this weekend for a pair of doubleheaders as the U.S. Soccer Development Academy regular season continues. Friday’s games against Real Colorado will take place at Highlands Heritage Regional Park in Highlands Ranch, with the U-15s and U-17s kicking off at 5:30 p.m. CT and the U-19s taking the field at 8 p.m. CT.
Sunday’s fixtures against fellow MLS academy Colorado Rapids will be held at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, with the U-15s (11 a.m. CT), U-17s (1:30 p.m. CT) and U-19s (4 p.m. CT) playing back-to-back-to-back. Follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter and Instagram next weekend and throughout the season for updates.
10. The Truce
In celebration of a long-standing Boxing Day tradition, the National World War I Museum, The Soccer Lot and Sporting Kansas City will host the seventh annual Truce 3v3 Soccer Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 26, with festivities beginning at 8 a.m. CT.
11. Mark Your Calendars
Major League Soccer has announced the dates and details for the 2019 postseason roster mechanisms as current MLS clubs and MLS expansion clubs alike make crucial decisions about their 2020 rosters. On Nov. 19, the 2019 Expansion Draft will consist of Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC selecting five players each from the eligible player list.
Following the Expansion Draft, clubs will have an additional two days to make final determinations on their rosters prior to a Nov. 21 option exercise deadline. On Nov. 22, MLS Communications will release the list of players eligible for each of the postseason roster mechanisms, including the End-of-Year Waivers, Free Agency and the Re-Entry Process.
