"This Week in Sporting,” is a weekly series that highlights the biggest storylines and news updates from Sporting Kansas City.
1. International break after busy May
After a congested, mayhem-filled May with seven competitive matches, Sporting Kansas City gets a much-needed break as MLS takes a week off for FIFA’s international break. Sporting posted a 3-2-1 record in the month of May and advanced to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals with wins against Western Conference foes, FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo. In regular season play, Sporting got the better of the Colorado Rapids 2-1 at home and picked up a point on the road against reigning champs, and current holders of first in the east, NYCFC.
Sporting will be back in action on Sunday, June 12 when the reigning Supporters’ Shield winners, New England Revolution come to Children’s Mercy Park. Tickets for Sporting KC’s Pride Night are on sale at SeatGeek.com and the match will be nationally broadcast on ABC and ESPN Deportes.
2. Sporting KC on the international scene
During the international break, two current Sporting KC players, and one former Sporting KC Academy product will be joining their national teams. Forward Daniel Salloi will link up with the Hungarian National team for four UEFA League A Nations League Group Stage matches. Salloi and Hungary will take on Italy, Germany and England. Fellow SKC forward Marinos Tzionis is set to play in four UEFA Nations League matches as well, taking on Northern Ireland, Greece and Kosovo.
Former Sporting KC player Erik Palmer-Brown, after a successful campaign with French Ligue 1 side Troyes will return to Kansas City with the United States Men’s National Team for a friendly against Uruguay. Brown most recently played with the USMNT in their 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in which the US placed in the top three of Concacaf earning a spot in the World Cup.
3. USMNT comes to CMP
On the topic of international soccer, the USMNT will be back at Children’s Mercy Park, looking to keep their unbeaten streak in Kansas City alive against Uruguay. Tickets for the friendly on June 5 at 4 p.m. CT are on sale now. In the final prep for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, head coach Greg Berhalter will be bringing his A-squad highlighted by Chrisitan Pulisic (Chelsea), Weston McKennie (Juventus) and Tim Weah (Lille).
4. Uruguay announces roster for friendly vs. USMNT
Looking at the USMNT opponent on Sunday, the Uruguay squad is one of the best international teams to appear at Children’s Mercy Park. Featuring Edison Cavani (Manchester United), Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid), Diego Godin (Atletico Mineiro) and Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), the two-time World Cup winners come to Kansas City ready to embark on another World Cup campaign. Valverde comes into this camp with some new hardware, winning the 2022 EUFA Champions League final with Real Madrid on May 28. The midfielder assisted on the lone goal in the cup final to help lift Madrid to their record 14 Champions League trophy.
5. Open Cup Quarterfinals set
Looking back at Sporting KC, they punched their ticket to the Open Cup quarterfinals with a 2-1 comeback victory over the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday, May 25 at Children’s Mercy Park. Johnny Russell netted a second-half brace to lift Sporting past the Texas side and out of the Round of 16. Sporting will host USL League 1 side Union Omaha at Children’s Mercy Park on Wednesday, June 22. Tickets are now on sale at SeatGeek.com and are free with all Season Ticket Member packages. Sporting is in search of an MLS-best five Open Cup titles.
6. SKC II picks up fourth consecutive result
Sunday, Benny Feilhaber and SKC II picked up their fourth-straight result, a 1-1 draw against Whitecaps FC 2. Vancouver took the extra point in kicks from the spot, converting all five of their penalties. First-team loanees shined as Jake Davis scored the equalizer late in the match, and Kendall McIntosh kept SKC II in the match with four clutch saves. SKC II is back at Rock Chalk Park on Saturday, June 4. Tickets are on sale for the match at SeatGeek.com as the Nicest Rivalry in sports comes to MLS NEXT Pro.
