Starting XI: Sunday Funday

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.

For the first time in three weeks, Sporting Kansas City is back at Children’s Mercy Park to host the Colorado Rapids at 6 p.m. Sunday on FS1, FOX Deportes, Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM. Fans can secure their tickets at SeatGeek.com as unbeaten Sporting KC (1-0-3, 6 points) looks to tie a club record by extending their regular season home unbeaten streak to 12 matches. Manager Peter Vermes’ side is one of three MLS teams without a loss in 2017 and will try to snap a five-game losing skid to the Rapids (1-1-1, 4 points), who were the surprise package in 2016 as a second-place finisher in the Western Conference.

 Supporters can visit the Sporting Plaza on the west side of Children’s Mercy Park before or after kickoff to sign the very last steel beam that will be installed at the world-class National Training and Coaching Development Center, set to open this winter in Kansas City, Kansas. Limited-time Sporting KC hard hats will also be for sale to mark the special occasion.

2. All in the Family

A limited-time ticket offer is available Sunday when Sporting KC hosts Colorado at state-of-the-art Children’s Mercy Park. For $125, families will receive four tickets to the game, four Coca-Cola products, four hot dogs and four bags of chips. Click here to learn more about the SKC Family 4 Pack and call 888-4KC-GOAL for further ticket information.

3. Injury Update

Sam McDowell provided injury updates Wednesday for Sporting KC duo Benny Feilhaber and Erik Palmer-Brown. Feilhaber, the only Sporting KC player to score a goal during the month of March, returned to training Tuesday and is day-to-day after a hamstring injury forced him out of practice last week. While the midfielder’s status for Sunday remains questionable, Homegrown center back Palmer-Brown has been a full participant in training after missing a week of practice last month with an ankle injury sustained during the CONCACAF U-20 Championship.

4. Radio Review

The official radio home of Sporting Kansas City offered plenty of coverage this week ahead of Sunday’s battle with the Colorado Rapids. On Tuesday, Sporting KC Show hosts Nate Bukaty, Carter Augustine and Jillian Carroll chatted with FS1 play-by-play commentator John Strong to discuss the forthcoming matchup and other developments in MLS. The following day, Manager Peter Vermes appeared on The Border Patrol with Bukaty and Steven St. John to discuss St. Louis’ MLS expansion bid and his team’s rugged defensive start to 2017.

5. Times They are a Changin’

Sporting KC announced updated kickoff times on Tuesday for two regular season home matches this season at Children’s Mercy Park. The club will host the Chicago Fire on July 29 at 7 p.m., 30 minutes earlier than originally scheduled. In addition, Sporting Kansas City will welcome the Houston Dynamo for its home finale on Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m. The rivalry match will begin simultaneously with four other Western Conference battles on the penultimate weekend of the regular season.

6. Down in Dallas

The Sporting KC Academy will send 20 players to Frisco, Texas this week to compete in the championship division of the 2017 Generation adidas Cup, an elite youth tournament featuring the best U-17 academy teams from across the world. The competition begins Friday when Sporting KC opens the group stage against LA Galaxy and runs through next Saturday, April 15, at Toyota Soccer Center in the Dallas suburbs. Follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter for live updates throughout the tournament.

7. CCL Setbacks

Another year, another dose of disappointment for MLS clubs in the CONCACAF Champions League. The league’s last two CCL survivors both suffered elimination from the tournament this week, FC Dallas taking a bitter 3-1 defeat to Pachuca before Vancouver Whitecaps FC lost 2-1 to Tigres UANL. Dallas’s loss was particularly heartbreaking, as Pachuca’s Hirving Lozano scored in the 92nd minute to give his side a 4-3 aggregate victory. Meanwhile, the Caps fell 4-1 on aggregate to ensure that a Mexican club will lift the CONCACAF Champions League trophy for the ninth straight time since the current competition format began in 2008.

8. Mighty Musa

After leading the Swope Park Rangers to a 1-0 shutout win last Wednesday in his club debut, center back James Musa promptly landed USL Team of the Week honors. The 25-year-old, who featured extensively last season for rival Saint Louis FC, recorded eight clearances and four interceptions as the Rangers won their second straight game to begin the 2017 campaign.

Led by head coach Nikola Popovic, SPR will observe a bye in Week 3 and scrimmage Rockhurst University at 1 p.m. Sunday at Swope Soccer Village. Admission is free and open to the public. The Rangers will then return to USL action next Saturday, April 15, hosting Sacramento Republic FC (tickets).

9. Helping Hand

Sporting Kansas City fans can visit SportingKC.com/helpful through Saturday to cast their vote for the Westlake Ace Hardware Helpful Moment of the Month. Individuals can choose among three nominees for the month of March, with each participant receiving a $7 coupon to Westlake Ace Hardware locations in the Kansas City area. The grand prize includes a $500 Westlake gift card, a Sporting KC replica jersey and two tickets to an upcoming match at Children's Mercy Park.

10. Turn on the Tube

Sporting KC and Colorado lock horns in one of three nationally televised matches that highlight the Week 6 MLS slate. At 3 p.m. Saturday, D.C. United and New York City FC square off in a contest that will stream live in English on the Univision Deportes Facebook page and air live on UniMas. The following afternoon, Orlando City SC welcomes the New York Red Bulls to its new soccer-specific stadium for a 3 p.m. clash on ESPN. Children’s Mercy Park plays host to the weekend nightcap Sunday at 6 p.m. on FS1.

11. The Power of Three

According to CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, the United States, Mexico and Canada have plans to form a joint-bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The countries’ plans come amid uncertain political conditions, as U.S. President Donald Trump intends to build a wall along the Mexican border and sign an executive order banning immigration and travel from multiple countries. Montagliani, however, remains confident that the North American trio can overcome the current political climate and welcome one of the world’s grandest sporting events to the CONCACAF region in 2026.

Games to Watch (April 7-10)