Starting XI: Rivalry Renewed

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.

A fierce rivalry will be renewed Sunday as Sporting KC (15-8-6, 51 points) looks to secure a club-record eighth straight playoff berth with a victory over Real Salt Lake (13-11-6, 45 points) at Children's Mercy Park. The pivotal Western Conference clash will kick off at 4 p.m. CT with national television coverage on FS1 and FOX Deportes, while local radio broadcasts will air on ESPN 94.5 FM/1510 AM and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM. A limited number of tickets for the matchup, including Coca-Cola Sunday Family 4-Packs, remain available and can be purchased by calling 888-4KC-GOAL or visiting SeatGeek.com.

2. Playoff Math

With five regular season matches still to play, Sporting KC are in a tight race for top spot in the Western Conference. FC Dallas has a two-point lead at the summit, while third-place LAFC lurk a point behind Sporting KC. Looking ahead to this weekend, the playoff math is simple: three points against their Utah rivals would guarantee Sporting KC a spot in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs. Click here for full scenarios.

3. Kick Childhood Cancer

Sporting KC will host its fourth annual Childhood Cancer Awareness match on Sunday, highlighted by The Victory Project welcoming more than 70 families the foundation has assisted for a special halftime ceremony. The game will also be part of MLS WORKS’ League-wide Kick Childhood Cancer campaign featuring a variety of special matchday elements:

• Gold adidas Nativo 2018 match ball
• Gold-themed corner flags, goal nets, captain’s armbands, commemorative jersey patches and custom-designed jersey numbers featuring the childhood cancer awareness ribbon
• Limited-edition Kick Childhood Cancer scarves and t-shirts worn by players, coaches and referees during pre-game
• Limited-edition apparel, including lapel pins and plush toys, available to purchase at MLSstore.com

Following the match, The Victory Project will auction off the jerseys worn by all 18 Sporting KC players during the game and conduct a live auction during FOX Sports Kansas City’s broadcast of the upcoming home game against LA Galaxy on Oct. 6.

4. Kalen Joins the Club

Sporting KC announced Wednesday that the club will sign Kalen Ricketson, an 18-year-old battling osteosarcoma, ahead of this Sunday’s match at Children’s Mercy Park. Ricketson has battled bone cancer since being diagnosed in December 2015, when he underwent his first of 13 surgeries over the last three years. In 2016, reoccurring tumors were discovered near his left elbow on two separate occasions and in 2017, the cancer spread to his left wrist. 

Amidst six rounds of chemotherapy treatment and two weeks removed from wrist replacement surgery, Ricketson was a special guest at Children’s Mercy Park on July 29, 2017 along with his parents, Chad and Crystal, and siblings, Alissa and Cole. Ricketson was the first Victory Project honoree to sit in the Victory Suite’s orange chair, in tribute to the late Neal Patterson, as part of Sporting KC’s tradition of honoring a child with cancer at every home match.

5. Week 30 Headliners

For the second straight weekend, Sporting KC's playoff push will unfold on national television. Sunday's crucial tilt with Real Salt Lake will air live from Children's Mercy Park at 4 p.m. CT on FS1 and FOX Deportes, serving as one of three nationally broadcast matches in Week 30. The other two carry particular significance, with one featuring LAFC — who are a point behind Sporting KC — and the other pitting Atlanta United FC against the New York Red Bulls in a battle that could decide who wins the Supporters' Shield.

6. CCL Spots

Sporting KC is now one of three MLS clubs slated to compete in the 2019 Concacaf Champions League. The Houston Dynamo joined Sporting KC and Toronto FC after a 3-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union in Wednesday's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final. A fourth team, Atlanta United FC, can join the trio on Sunday with a road win over the New York Red Bulls.

7. FIFA on Steroids

Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal and Khiry Shelton recently battled Gianluca Busio and Daniel Salloi in an epic game of Sliders, an arcade version of the EA SPORTS FIFA video game. Sit back, relax and get a kick out of the video below.

8. Launch Party

In conjunction with the worldwide release of the highly anticipated EA SPORTS FIFA 19 video game, Sporting Kansas City will host a FIFA 19 Launch Tournament on Friday at No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District (1370 Grand Blvd.). Registration for the single-elimination FIFA 19 Launch Tournament is open to the first 32 individuals who sign up at SportingKC.com/FIFA19. Friday's event will run from 5-8 p.m. CT, featuring appearances from two Sporting KC players.

The two players who advance to Friday's grand final will go home with a PlayStation 4 copy of FIFA 19, while the champion will win a custom-wrapped PlayStation 4 Pro. Two additional copies of FIFA 19 will be raffled off to tournament participants by the end of the night.

9. Celebrity Bartending

The Victory Project and Sporting KC will host Celebrity Bartending on Thursday, Oct. 4, at No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District (1370 Grand Blvd.). Now in its third year, Celebrity Bartending will see Sporting KC players serve beverages and play games with fans during a festive night of fundraising for The Victory Project.

Graham Zusi, Ike Opara, Yohan Croizet, Kharlton Belmar, Brad Evans, Graham Smith and Eric Dick will be in attendance to interact with supporters, and funds raised through the event will go to The Victory Project in its mission to help children and families in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

10. Hadji Makes History

Red-hot Swope Park Rangers forward Hadji Barry continued his blistering run of form with goals in both matches last week, securing a spot on the USL Team of the Week as one of the premier performers in Week 28. Barry bagged the game-winner in a pivotal 2-0 home victory over San Antonio FC on Wednesday and scored again in Saturday's 1-1 road draw with Tulsa Roughnecks FC, setting a new USL modern-era record with goals in eight consecutive league appearances.

11. Orange Crush

The Houston Dynamo won their first Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title on Wednesday after defeating the Philadelphia Union 3-0 at BBVA Compass Stadium. Mauro Manotas struck twice in the first half and Union defender Auston Trusty added an own goal after the break as Houston condemned Philadelphia to its third Open Cup Final defeat in five seasons. With the win, Houston has joined Sporting KC as a participant in the 2019 Concacaf Champions League.

Games to Watch (Sept. 28-30, 2018)