With 17 home games on the regular season slate and the quality of Major League Soccer growing faster than ever before, supporters will have the opportunity to see a remarkable crop of players throughout the 2018 campaign at Children’s Mercy Park.
As a perennial playoff team, Sporting KC will be bolstered by the likes of Matt Besler, Graham Zusi, Ike Opara and Tim Melia. That’s not to mention the important roles of newly acquired midfielder Yohan Croizet, forward Khiry Shelton or any other new faces that join the squad before the March 4 season opener against New York City FC.
Every home fixture will also see ultra-talented opponents descend on Children’s Mercy Park — perhaps none more accomplished than NYCFC’s David Villa, the 2016 MLS MVP who has won just about every major trophy at the club and international level.
In the space below, we pinpoint one major name from all 16 clubs slated to visit Kansas City in 2018 (Minnesota United FC travels to KC twice).
Single-game tickets for Sporting KC’s first 10 home matches at Children’s Mercy Park — beginning with the 2018 season opener and ending with a marquee matchup against defending MLS Cup champion Toronto FC on July 7 — will go on sale to the general public on Thursday, Feb. 1 at 10 a.m. CT via SeatGeek.com. Sporting KC Season Ticket Members will have access to an exclusive single-game presale opportunity beginning Monday, Jan. 29 at 10 a.m. CT.
In addition, Sporting KC has made a limited number of season tickets available for purchase. Group ticket packages for all home matches are also on sale. For ticket inquiries and more information, call 888-4KC-GOAL.
<strong>DATE</strong> |
<strong>OPPONENT</strong> |
<strong>PLAYER TO WATCH</strong> |
<strong>THE SCOOP</strong> |
Sunday, March 4 |
New York City FC |
F David Villa |
The Spanish legend has won the World Cup and the UEFA Champions League. Oh, and he's exploded for 65 goals over the last three MLS seasons, more than any other player. |
Saturday, March 17 |
San Jose Earthquakes |
F Magnus Eriksson |
The 27-year-old arrives in San Jose from the Swedish top-flight Allsvenskan, where he finished 2017 as the league's leading scorer. Eriksson has bagged 91 goals throughout his professional career. |
Saturday, March 31 |
D.C. United |
M Paul Arriola |
The 22-year-old U.S. international joined D.C. in late 2017 after spending his first five professional south of the border with Tijuana. Arriola's pace and creativity make him an intriguing prospect for the U.S. MNT. |
Sunday, April 15 |
Seattle Sounders FC |
F Clint Dempsey |
One of greatest American players of his generation, Dempsey has been stubbornly consistent during his five-year stay with Seattle. Age is working against him — he turns 35 in March — but Dempsey wears his heart on his sleeve and brings a winning mentality to the Sounders. |
Friday, April 20 |
Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
F Kei Kamara |
A former fan favorite in Kansas City, Kamara has since moved on to Columbus, New England and now Vancouver. The uber-athletic forward has 46 MLS goals to his name since leaving Sporting KC in 2013. |
Saturday, May 5 |
Colorado Rapids |
GK Tim Howard |
Arguably the best American goalkeeper of all-time, Howard is worth the price of admission if only for his hyperactive demeanor between the posts. He's nearing the age of 39, but Howard still has undeniable qualities as a shot stopper. |
Sunday, May 27 |
Columbus Crew SC |
GK Zach Steffen |
Just as Howard enters the twilight of his career, the next elite American goalkeeper could be blossoming before our eyes. The 22-year-old Steffen was spectacular over the second half of 2017 and into the playoffs. He could be an MNT mainstay for years to come. |
Sunday, June 3 and<br>
Saturday, Aug. 25 |
Minnesota United FC |
F Christian Ramirez |
Ramirez quietly scored 14 goals during the Loons' inaugural season in 2017. Opportunistic and clinical in front of goal, Ramirez received a call to the U.S. MNT for the first time this month alongside Ike Opara. |
Saturday, June 23 |
Houston Dynamo |
F Alberth Elis |
The 21-year-old boasts blistering pace and athleticism, making him one of the toughest wingers to contain in MLS. Elis notched 11 goals during his first MLS season in 2017, including the extra-time strike that sunk Sporting KC in the Western Conference Knockout Round. |
Saturday, July 7 |
Toronto FC |
F Sebastian Giovinco |
Simply put, no MLS player has been more dominant over the last three seasons. The diminutive Italian has amassed 60 goals and 42 assists throughout his Toronto FC career and spearheaded the club's treble-winning campaign in 2017. Giovinco is a must-see, end of story. |
Saturday, July 28 |
FC Dallas |
M Mauro Diaz |
Like the whole of FC Dallas, Diaz endured a rough 2017 season. But in 2015 and 2016, he was one of the league's most creative playmakers. Expect Diaz to bounce back this time around and resume his role as an elite attacking force. |
Saturday, Aug. 18 |
Portland Timbers |
M Diego Valeri |
The 2017 MLS MVP was unplayable last year, racking up 21 goals and 11 assists while leading the Timbers to a first-place finish in the Western Conference. His thunderous strike at Children's Mercy Park in July was a prompt reminder of his remarkable quality. |
Saturday, Sept. 8 |
Orlando City SC |
F Dom Dwyer |
You may have heard of him? A highly anticipated reunion will see Dwyer make his return to Kansas City. Orlando is banking on him to deliver goals in 2018, having signed him to a new three-year deal last week. |
Sunday, Sept. 30 |
Real Salt Lake |
M Albert Rusnak |
In his first MLS season, Rusnak led the league in chances created and only got better as 2017 wore on. With a young but talented attacking corps around him, the talented Slovak could improve on his seven-goal, 14-assist output from last term. |
Saturday, Oct. 6 |
LA Galaxy |
M Romain Alessandrini |
The sensational Frenchman was LA's lone bright spot during an otherwise deplorable 2017 campaign. Alessandrini tallied 13 goals and 12 assists, sometimes singlehandedly keeping the Galaxy in games as a versatile attacker and set piece specialist. |
Sunday, Oct. 28 |
LAFC |
F Carlos Vela |
The Mexican international is the highest-profile addition to an expansion side that is rounding into something formidable on paper. Vela has spent the previous seven seasons with Real Sociedad in Spain's La Liga, where he has scored 73 goals. |
