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After taking a look at Sporting KC’s schedule release, the following are must-watch games. I would suggest getting to as many of these games as possible.
The home opener is always a great occasion in any sport. This season’s home opener will be against CJ Sapong and the Philadelphia Union.
The first really intriguing home matchup for Sporting Kansas City will come May 5 against Atlanta United. The defending champions will be under new manager Frank de Boer and it will be must-see soccer.
The Seattle Sounders come to town on May 26. The Sounders always give Sporting a great game, whether it is at Children’s Mercy Park or at Century Link Field.
The first major star to come to KC will come on May 29. The star is the one and only, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Zlatan will be under new manager Guillermo Schelotto, who has taken over for interim manager Dominic Kinnear(who is now assistant manager). Zlatan will be interesting to watch if you didn’t see him play when he came to town this past October.
After a month on the road, SKC returns home to face LAFC on July 3. Will Ferrell’s side come to town with a fantastic Mexican striker that can score some incredible goals, Carlos Vela. Former Sporting forward Latif Blessing also returns with LA’s newest side.
Although the Chicago Fire aren’t exactly sparkling, they have German legend Bastian Schweinsteiger. Schweinsteiger has been turned into the team’s starting center back and the captain will look to get a result at Children’s Mercy Park on July 6. This is quite possibly his last visit to Kansas City in his career.
Next is a club without any superstars but they are always towards the top of the table, FC Dallas. Dallas comes to Kansas City on July 20 and this is guaranteed to be a game between two very stable franchises in lower markets in the league.
Perhaps Sporting’s biggest rival, Real Salt Lake, comes to town on August 10. These teams started the rivalry with a preseason altercation in 2011 and they have since met in the 2013 MLS Cup and most recently in the 2018 MLS Playoffs.
With two former Kansas City forwards and a USMNT legend, the Colorado Rapids have a promising squad set up with Diego Rubio, Kei Kamara, and Tim Howard returning to Children’s Mercy Park on September 21.
Revenge. The Portland Timbers come to town on September 29. After last year’s playoff elimination, all of Kansas City still has a sour taste from that cold and emotional night last November.