Sporting KC Weekly Schedule: Feb. 26 - March 4, 2018

Times and locations for scheduled events are subject to change.

Following a month-long preseason campaign in Arizona, Sporting Kansas City will kick off the club's 23rd season in Major League Soccer against New York City FC on Sunday at world-class Children's Mercy Park. The nationally televised clash will air live at 6:30 p.m. CT on FS1, pitting the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champions against Spanish striker David Villa and a New York City side that finished second in last season's Supporters' Shield standings. Listeners can also follow the action live on Sports Radio 810 WHB in English and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM in Spanish, while The Final Whistle Postgame Show will air on 810 WHB immediately after the game.

Tickets for Sunday's highly anticipated curtain raiser are available at SeatGeek.com, and the first 15,000 fans through the stadium gates will receive a free 2018 schedule magnet courtesy of Children's Mercy.

On Wednesday, all supporters are invited to Sporting KC’s “For Glory. For City.” Season Launch Party presented by Ivy Investments at Children’s Mercy Park. Held in partnership with adidas and Bud Light, the Season Launch Party will begin at 5 p.m. CT with Sporting KC's new secondary jersey on sale for the first time. Sporting KC players and coaches will join the season-opening celebration at 6:45 p.m. CT, and fans planning to attend the free event can RSVP at SportingKC.com/RSVP.

The season premiere of the Sporting KC Show will air at 7 p.m. CT Tuesday on Sports Radio 810 WHB with hosts Nate Bukaty and Carter Augustine. The duo will recap Sporting KC's preseason, look ahead to Sunday's match against New York City FC and preview the first weekend of the 2018 MLS regular season.

Major League Soccer's Roster Compliance Date is Thursday, at which time all clubs must be roster and budget compliant heading into the start of the 2018 MLS regular season. Click here to view Sporting KC's current roster, and click here for a full list of the club's offseason roster moves.

Supporters are encouraged to show their club colors by wearing Sporting KC gear on Friday and sharing their photos/videos on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #Dress4MLS. Sporting KC will feature select posts throughout the day and Major League Soccer will pick one grand-prize winner for a trip to the 2018 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target in Atlanta, Georgia.

The countdown to kickoff continues Saturday with the Sporting KC Block Party at Town Center Plaza (5000 W 119th St, Leawood, KS 66209). The free event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. CT, featuring Sporting KC player appearances, live music, yard games, giveaways and more.

First-year head coach Paulo Nagamura leads the Swope Park Rangers into another week of preseason preparation ahead of the 2018 United Soccer League campaign. The Rangers will travel to Indianapolis in Tuesday before playing a pair of friendly matches at Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield, Indiana, facing fellow USL side Indy Eleven at 2 p.m. CT Wednesday and NCAA power Indiana University at 8 p.m. CT Saturday. Rangers tickets for the 2018 USL season are on sale now via SeatGeek.com.

The Sporting KC U-15s, U-17s and U-19s continue their Development Academy campaigns this weekend with a pair of doubleheaders in the state of Texas. Sporting KC will meet Lonestar SC at Round Rock Multipurpose Complex on Saturday before facing the Houston Dynamo at Houston Sports Park on Sunday. Follow the Sporting KC Academy on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat (skcacademy) for all the latest information on the club's five youth development teams.

Sporting KC and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City are teaming up once again in 2018 to recognize Blue KC Sporting Samaritans, honoring students and teachers who make the Kansas City community a better place to live, work and play. Once a month, a Samaritan will be recognized on the pitch at Children's Mercy Park before a Sporting KC home game. The Samaritan and a limited number of guests will receive a behind the scenes VIP experience with a wide variety of all-inclusive perks. Supporters can nominate a community member to be the next Blue KC Sporting Samaritan at SportingKC.com/bluekc.

For news, videos, photos and instant updates throughout the 2018 season, follow Sporting KC on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat (sportingkc), and download the club’s official mobile app Sporting KC Uphoria on the App Store or Google Play.