Blue Links: SKC Streaming Delays, Green Card, Transfer Rumor Update, USL 2 Schedule, New Kit Numbers Released

There are lots of Sporting Kansas City stories out there that you may have missed. Let’s get caught up.

Streaming Sporting KC May Get Easier in 2022

In 2020, Sinclair rebranded the regional sports network, Fox Sports Kansas City to Bally Sports Kansas City. At the time it was announced, they also stated they would be starting yet another streaming service. That now won’t happen until 2022. So for the 2021 soccer season, SKC are still on Bally Sports (formerly Fox Sports) and watching them could be a real challenge.

In the past two years Sinclair have failed to come to agreements with YouTube TV, Hulu Live, fuboTV, Dish Network and Sling (owned by Dish). The only way to get it is to buy cable, AT&T TV or DirecTV. Here is a sample list from a game in 2020 from SKC listing all the known providers that carry Bally Sports.

Yet Another Streaming Network for Soccer

Sinclair isn’t the only company getting into soccer streaming. Paramount+, the rebranded CBS All Access, is picking up lots of new soccer content. They’ve acquired the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying for the 2022 Men’s competition and 2023 Women’s competition. Paramount+ is already set to be the home of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the UEFA Champion’s League and Europa League. The announcement also included that Paramount+ will have CONCACAF’s men’s and women’s Nations League tournaments starting this summer. Additionally, you can scout the next South American star as the men’s clubs from Argentina and Brazil will be on Paramount+ in English in America for the first time.

Green Card for Puncec

Sporting KC announced this week that Croatian center back Roberto Puncec received his green card and he will no longer occupy an international roster spot. That means SKC will have two open international spots to make new signings (#YoungMoney anyone?). The six current players taking up spots are: Alan Pulido, Remi Walter, Nicolas Isimat-Mirin, Luis Martins, Andreu Fontas and Gadi Kinda.

More New Jersey Numbers Released

Well, number. Singular. The biggest wave of new player numbers came out a couple weeks ago with all the new players on the roster getting their numbers unveiled. Then this week, it was announced that Gianluca Busio would wear the famous #10. Now, the final number change (so far) has come down and it’s Jaylin Lindsey moving from the #26 to the #2 (my personal favorite number so my dreams are dashed of getting signed and getting my number).

Busio on Preliminary Olympic Roster

Speaking of Gianluca Busio, he may be on international duty a lot this year. He was announced as being among the 48 players named to the Preliminary Olympic Roster. The roster is limited to U-23 players and only 20 will make the final roster which is due by March 8th. Busio is seen as a long shot to make the roster, but you never know.

Here is the full United States qualifying schedule:

• Thursday, March 18: USA vs. Costa Rica (4 p.m. CT)
• Sunday, March 21: USA vs. Dominican Republic (6 p.m. CT)
• Wednesday, March 24: USA vs. Mexico (8:30 p.m. CT)
• Sunday, March 28: Tournament semifinals
• Tuesday, March 30: Tournament final

Transfer Rumor Update

Earlier in the offseason Sporting Kansas City were linked to Lautaro Giannetti of Velez Sarsfield (Argentina). The center back would be seen as a big get and it’s unclear if that rumor has any legs. He captains his current club and has been linked to SKC in 2019 as well. Now, he’s being tied to Atlanta United as well. It’s possible with the signing of Nicolas Isimat-Mirin that SKC are out of the running, but teams tend to not play with just four CBs on the roster and it would make people feel a lot better with Giannetti back there.

Kaw Valley FC Release Schedule

Kaw Valley of USL League Two have released their 2021 schedule. They will play their home games in Lawrence, Kansas. They will also welcome new St. Louis club (at least in USL2) Scott Gallagher to the league and another expansion team, FC Wichita for more regional rivalries.