Starting XI: Motley Crew

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.

Western Conference leaders Sporting KC (7-2-3, 24 points) return to Children's Mercy Park on Sunday to host Columbus Crew SC (7-3-3, 24 points) in a marquee interconference clash at 5 p.m. CT. The match will be televised nationally on FS1 with local radio broadcasts airing on Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM (Spanish). The Final Whistle Postgame Show will air immediately after the match on 810 WHB.

Tickets for Sunday's game are available via SeatGeek.com as Sporting KC celebrates Retro Night, paying homage to its proud roots in a comprehensive throwback experience. An expansive collection of retro merchandise will be on sale at every SportingStyle location in the stadium, and the first 10,000 fans through the stadium gates will receive a retro jersey koozie courtesy of match sponsor Vision Source. As part of the Retro Night celebration, the annual Sporting KC Media Game will take place at halftime in an old school MLS shootout format.

2. Retro Rollout

SportingStyle has reopened matchday pre-orders for pickup at Sunday's game between Sporting KC and Columbus Crew SC. Fans can shop a limited assortment of items online, including the highly anticipated Retro Collection featuring a rainbow-themed top, shorts, socks and scarf of the match. The SportingStyle Pop in Store is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Budweiser Brew House at Children's Mercy Park. Follow @SportingStyle on Twitter and Instagram for sneak peeks of all the latest club apparel.

3. Great Eight

Major League Soccer today unveiled the fan ballot for the 2018 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, featuring eight players from all 23 clubs as nominated by national media. The following Sporting KC players are eligible for fan voting:

• Goalkeeper: Tim Melia
• Defenders: Matt Besler, Ike Opara and Graham Zusi
• Midfielders: Roger Espinoza and Ilie Sanchez
• Forwards: Johnny Russell and Daniel Salloi

Among Sporting KC’s eight All-Star nominees, five are seeking MLS All-Star recognition for the first time. Besler (2011, 2013-16) and Zusi (2012-15, 2017) are both five-time MLS All-Star selections, while Espinoza was an All-Star in 2012.

4. Title Defense

Sporting KC will begin their defense of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, June 6, visiting fellow MLS club Real Salt Lake in the Fourth Round of the prestigious tournament at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. CT.

U.S. Soccer today announced all Fourth Round matchups for the 2018 U.S. Open Cup, which will see 20 MLS clubs enter the competition in the round of 32. Sporting KC is the reigning Open Cup champion, having defeated the New York Red Bulls 2-1 in the 2017 final last September at Children’s Mercy Park.

5. Rangers Return

Led by head coach Paulo Nagamura, the Swope Park Rangers will play their first home game in nearly a month when Didier Drogba and Phoenix Rising FC (6-2-3, 21 points) visit Children's Mercy Park for a 4 p.m. CT kickoff on Saturday. Tickets are available at SeatGeek.com and the match will stream live on ESPN+.

6. Summer School

Three Sporting KC Academy teams will return to Swope Soccer Village on Saturday and Sunday for a pair of tripleheaders against the Colorado Rapids. On both days, the Sporting KC U-15s will kick off at 10 a.m. CT, followed by the U-17s at 12:30 p.m. and the U-19s at 3 p.m. All six games will be free and open to the public to attend. Follow the Sporting KC Academy on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat (skcacademy) for updates this weekend and throughout the year.

7. King of the Court

For the second straight year, a summer series of soccer and entertainment is hitting futsal courts across Kansas City. Sporting KC will host King of the Court futsal tournaments on six separate Saturdays between June 16 and July 28, featuring 5-v-5 matches for age groups 8-12 as well as 13 and up. Each futsal tournament will also feature a block party complete with music, yard games, skills challenges, food trucks, music DJs and more. Tournament registration is free for all teams and now open at SportingKC.com/kingofthecourt.

8. Hitch a Lyft

Sporting KC announced Wednesday that Lyft has been named the club’s preferred rideshare partner throughout the 2018 Major League Soccer season.

The ongoing partnership with Lyft includes a rideshare platform that provides fans with a wide range of ride options to and from Children’s Mercy Park. The newly-branded Lyft Lot on the northeast side of Children’s Mercy Park will serve as an easily identifiable location for drivers to conveniently pick up and drop off riders to ensure a great gameday experience.

9. CFO Honored

Sporting KC Chief Financial Officer Marty Nevshemal has been named a CFO of the Year honoree by the Kansas City Business Journal, the club announced on Wednesday. Nevshemal is one of 16 individuals selected to receive the prestigious award, which recognizes financial professionals in the Kansas City region for outstanding performance in their roles as corporate financial stewards. Honorees for the 2018 CFO of the Year program will be formally celebrated at a luncheon on June 14 at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza.

10. Toyota Tour

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sporting KC fans of all ages are welcome to attend the next stop of the 2018 Toyota Tour at McCarthy Toyota of Sedalia (3110 W Broadway Blvd, Sedalia, MO). Supporters will have photograph opportunities with the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy and club mascot Blue. All in attendance will also have a chance to win a fan appreciation package to Sporting KC's home match on July 7 against defending MLS Cup champion Toronto FC, consisting of four tickets, a $100 SportingStyle gift card and a signed Sporting KC jersey.

11. Upper 90
Sporting KC supporters can treat themselves to three upcoming home matches at Children's Mercy Park for a combined $50. The new Upper 90 Pack consists of a standing-room only ticket to each of the following three games this summer:

• Sunday, June 3 vs. Minnesota United FC (7:30 p.m. CT)
• Saturday, June 23 vs. Houston Dynamo (7:30 p.m. CT)
• Saturday, July 7 vs. Toronto FC (7:30 p.m. CT)

Standing-room only tickets allow fans to enjoy all the action directly above The Cauldron supporters section on the north side of Children's Mercy Park. Click here to purchase the Upper 90 Pack while supplies last.

Games to Watch (May 25-27, 2018)