Starting XI: Gotta #Get3

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.

Consider the U.S. MNT’s back against the wall heading into Friday’s pivotal World Cup qualifier versus Honduras at Avaya Stadium in San Jose (9:30 p.m., FS1, UniMas, UDN). The Americans’ 0-2 start in the Hex prompted the appointment of new head coach Bruce Arena, whose immediate task will be to qualify the Yanks for an eighth straight World Cup. As many as three Sporting KC players could feature in Friday’s clash, as Matt Besler and Graham Zusi have joined the U.S. MNT while Roger Espinoza has linked up with Los Catrachos.

MLSsoccer.com’s Matt Doyle takes a shot at the MNT’s starting XI, Doug McIntyre ponders whether Friday is a must-win, and U.S. Soccer has successfully birthed the #Get3 hashtag ahead of the matchup.  Supporters are welcome to attend a watch party for the match at No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District, featuring a variety of drink specials.

2. Feilhaber Unfiltered

Twenty-two minutes of honest, candid and insightful remarks. This is exactly what you’ll get when you listen to Benny Feilhaber’s ESPN FC interview with Max Bretos and Herculez Gomez. The talismanic Sporting KC midfielder addressed a variety of topics on Tuesday, including Sporting KC’s stingy start to the season, his exclusion from the U.S. MNT roster and the influx of foreign talent into MLS. Listen to the interview here and catch the complete show here.

3. We are the SPR

The Swope Park Rangers begin their second season in the United Soccer League on Saturday, hosting Jimmy Nielsen and OKC Energy FC in a 7:30 p.m. CT kickoff at Children’s Mercy Victory Field inside Swope Soccer Village. Tickets for the match are available at SeatGeek.com and the stadium box office on game day, and SportingKC.com will provide a live stream of the action. Click here to catch up on the Rangers’ preseason results as they enter 2017 as defending USL Western Conference champions.

4. Canadians in Qatar

While the Swope Park Rangers get set for Saturday’s home opener, two of their best players will embark on their first youth national team call-ups. Defender Amer Didic and forward Mark Anthony Gonzalez have joined the Canada U-23s for a tournament in Qatar, where they will face Uzbekistan on Saturday and hosts Qatar next Tuesday. Didic, a product of Baker University in nearby Baldwin City, Kansas, was a USL All-League First Team honoree and a finalist for 2016 USL Defender of the Year. Gonzalez, who played collegiately at the University of Evansville, led SPR with 12 goals as a rookie last season.

5. Crazy for CONCACAF

Before the U.S. and Honduras square off in San Jose, two other CONCACAF matches will take place in the Hexagonal. Trinidad and Tobago will host Panama at 6 p.m. (beIN SPORTS) before Mexico hosts Costa Rica in a tantalizing matchup at 7:30 p.m. (FS1, UniMas, UDN). Ryan Rosenblatt of FOX Sports breaks down the Mexico roster, which bears a different look due to a slew of injuries in the El Tri camp.

All six teams competing in the Hexagonal will play eight more matches between now and October, with the top three finishers qualifying automatically for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The fourth-place finisher will face an Asian side in a two-legged playoff in November.

HEXAGONAL STANDINGS

6. Trek to Texas

Interested in traveling to see Sporting KC play one of the best teams in MLS? Join one of the biggest Roaddrons of the year when Peter Vermes’ men visit FC Dallas on Saturday, April 22 at Toyota Stadium. Supporters can secure their free tickets by clicking here, but act fast — the deadline to claim free tickets is Friday, April 7.

7. Road to Russia

Outside of CONCACAF, the next several days are slam-packed with all-important World Cup qualifiers across the globe. Tonight, the top two teams in the CONMEBOL table square off when Uruguay hosts Brazil (6 p.m., beIN SPORTS). Elsewhere, the pressure is on fifth-place Argentina to collect a home win against fourth-place Chile. CONCACAF and UEFA run the show Friday and Saturday, respectively, including the abovementioned matches as well as Ireland vs. Wales and Portugal vs. Hungary.

8. Schweini to Chicago

The Chicago Fire have added one of the most decorated players in world soccer to its roster. Germany legend Bastian Schweinsteiger has signed with the Fire and could be eligible for selection as soon as April 1 when Chicago hosts the Montreal Impact. MLSsoccer.com’s Sam Stejskal writes that by embracing its recent futility, Chicago convinced the midfielder to join a burgeoning project characterized by sincerity and commitment. And although the silver-haired Schweinsteiger enters MLS at the age of 32, former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes the German has plenty left in the tank.

9. Penned Permanently

It didn’t take long for expansion side Atlanta United FC to finalize the transfer of Josef Martinez, who leads MLS through Week 3 with five goals. The 23-year-old Venezuelan initially joined Atlanta on loan from Italian club Torino in February, but the transfer became permanent when a multi-year contract was agreed on Tuesday. Martinez is currently with Venezuela on World Cup qualifying duty, where he will face Peru tonight at 6:30 p.m. CT.

10. The Power of Three

Week 4 in MLS gives us only three matches, but storylines pulse powerfully through each of them. At 1 p.m. CT, the New England Revolution and Minnesota United FC will both aim for their first victories of the season. Anything less than a win against the struggling Loons would be cause for concern in Foxborough. At 3 p.m. CT on UniMas and Univision Deportes Facebook Live, winless Real Salt Lake visits the New York Red Bulls just days after firing manager Jeff Cassar. The action wraps up at 6:30 p.m. CT with a compelling matchup between high-flying Portland Timbers and Columbus Crew SC at MAPFRE Stadium.

11. Good Samaritan

Sporting KC and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City are teaming up in 2017 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. Once a month, a Samaritan and up to three guests will receive a behind the scenes VIP experience, four tickets to the game, a parking pass and a $50 gift card redeemable for Sporting KC merchandise. Supporters can nominate members of their community to be the next Blue KC Sporting Samaritan at SportingKC.com/bluekc.

Games to Watch (March 24-27)