Starting XI: Friday Night Lights

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.

Four points clear atop the Western Conference standings, Sporting KC (4-1-2, 14 points) will put a six-game unbeaten run on the line Friday when Vancouver Whitecaps FC (3-3-1, 10 points) visits world-class Children’s Mercy Park at 8 p.m. CT. Tickets for the matchup are available via SeatGeek.com, and the first 10,000 fans through the stadium gates will receive a Tim Melia bobblehead courtesy of match sponsor Mark One Electric. Click here for five storylines to follow entering Friday and here for a statistical preview of the game.

FOX Sports Kansas City Plus, FOX Sports Midwest Plus and FOX Sports GO will provide three hours of live coverage on Friday beginning at 7:30 p.m. CT. Local radio broadcasts will air on Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM (Spanish), while the Sporting KC Uphoria app will deliver live updates and an exclusive offer for free Ben & Jerry's ice cream at Kansas City area Price Chopper locations. 

2. Radio Rewind

Three members of the Major League Soccer community joined three different programs on Sports Radio 810 WHB this week ahead of Sporting KC's home tilt with Vancouver Whitecaps FC. A busy episode of The Sporting KC Show on Tuesday night included an appearance from assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin, captain Matt Besler made his weekly visit on The Border Patrol Wednesday morning, and MLSsoccer.com's Andrew Wiebe joined The Program on Wednesday afternoon.

3. Fan Forum

Sporting KC CEO & President Jake Reid, captain Matt Besler, winger Johnny Russell and homegrown forward Daniel Salloi will participate in a Fan Forum on Tuesday, May 1 at No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District, giving supporters of all ages the opportunity to interact first-hand with club representatives. The Fan Forum will see Reid, Besler, Russell and Salloi answer questions and engage with fans in attendance, making for an interactive and open-ended conversation. Reid will speak first, followed by the three Sporting KC players in a talk show format.

The Fan Forum will begin at 6 p.m. CT inside No Other Pub, and attendance is free for a limited number of fans who RSVP at SportingKC.com/forum. Due to seating capacity within No Other Pub, every individual wishing to attend the Fan Forum must RSVP separately by providing the required information.

4. Predict the Lineup

Fans can predict the Sporting KC starting XI at SportingKC.com/kslottery for the chance to win four field-level tickets to a future Sporting KC home match in the Kansas Lottery Patio Seats, including a halftime recognition on the stadium videoboard and UMB Field Club access during the match, consisting of all-inclusive food and beverage.

5. Headliners

Friday's match between Sporting KC and Vancouver marks just the beginning of a packed Week 8 slate in which 22 of 23 clubs take the field. Three of the 11 fixtures will be available to national audiences, including Saturday's contest between the New York Red Bulls and Chicago Fire as well as the Soccer Sunday doubleheader featuring Seattle vs. Minnesota and Portland vs. New York City FC.

6. Score at Scooter’s

Scooter's Coffee is set to host its fifth #CoffeeKicksCancer donation day for The Victory Project, an initiative from Sporting KC that unites players, staff and fans to help children battling cancer. On Friday, Kansas City area Scooter’s Coffee locations will donate 20 percent of proceeds to the foundation to help further its mission. That same day, Scooter's Coffee will celebrate the grand opening of its new cafe in Gardner, Kansas (1850 E. Santa Fe Dr.) with a a Day of Giving, donating 100 percent of the location's proceeds to The Victory Project.

7. Down in the Desert

Led by head coach Paulo Nagamura, the Rangers (3-1-1, 10 points) will resume their USL campaign Saturday with a visit to Phoenix Rising FC (3-1-1, 10 points) at Phoenix Rising FC Soccer Complex in Tempe, Arizona. The match will kick off at 9 p.m. CT and stream live on ESPN+. The new ESPN+ now serves as the home for Major League Soccer's out-of-market streaming package and the USL's official streaming subscription service in the U.S. ESPN+ is available to fans for $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year, featuring live sports and ESPN content in addition to MLS and USL matches.

8. Forty Under 40

ReidOn Wednesday, Sporting KC CEO and President Jake Reid was recognized at the Sport Business Journal 2018 Forty Under 40 Awards during a ceremony at the JW Marriott Los Angeles. Reid earned the accolade in February for excellence and innovation in his role at Sporting KC, where he has helped the club experience substantial growth in season ticket sales, corporate sponsorships and merchandise and concession revenue since joining the organization in 2010.

9. Academy in Action

Led by head coach Paulo Nagamura, the Rangers (3-1-1, 10 points) will resume their USL campaign Saturday with a visit to Phoenix Rising FC (3-1-1, 10 points) at Phoenix Rising FC Soccer Complex in Tempe, Arizona. The match will kick off at 9 p.m. CT and stream live on ESPN+. The new ESPN+ now serves as the home for Major League Soccer's out-of-market streaming package and the USL's official streaming subscription service in the U.S. ESPN+ is available to fans for $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year, featuring live sports and ESPN content in addition to MLS and USL matches.

10. Seeing Red

Toronto FC's bid to become the first MLS team to lift the Concacaf Champions League title took a major blow on Tuesday when the Canadian side fell 2-1 at home to Chivas de Guadalajara in the first leg of the tournament finals. The decisive second leg will take place next Wednesday in Guadalajara, Mexico, kicking off at 8:30 p.m. CT on Go90.com and Univision Deportes.

11. Star of the City

Sporting KC and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City are teaming up 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 (April 20-23, 2018)