Sporting Kansas City

Founded: 1996

League: Major League Soccer (MLS)

Conference: Western

Stadium: Children's Mercy Park (capacity 18,467)

Manager: Peter Vermes (2023-present)

Star Players: Alan Pulido, Jake Davis, Tim Melia

2023 MLS Regular Season: 12-14-8 (8th in Western Conference)

2023 MLS Playoffs: Quarterfinals (defeated 1-0 by Houston Dynamo FC)

Legendary Former Players: Preki, Graham Zusi, Tony Meola, Matt Besler

Titles: 2 MLS Cups (2000, 2013), 4 US Open Cups (2004, 2012, 2015, 2017)

Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City, one of the ten remaining clubs that helped found MLS in 1996, began life under the rather unfortunate moniker of the Kansas City Wiz. When marketing people came to their senses the very next year (no doubt helped along by snickering third graders), the team was rebranded as the Kansas City Wizards. Not that great, but better than the “Wiz” (plus Harry Potter was all the rage at the time). Kansas City fared quite well in the early days of the MLS, winning a Supporters’ Shield and an MLS Cup in 2000 for a League-Cup Double, with the Cup win coming at the expense of the CF in a narrow 1-0 win with legendary Team USA goalkeeper Tony Meola making 10 saves to earn Man of the Match honors. Kansas City narrowly missed out on both the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup in 2004, finishing second in the regular season and falling in the MLS Cup Final to D.C. United in a 3-2 thriller. Fortunately for Kansas City, they won the US Open Cup that year, which was some consolation. After launching another successful rebranding as Sporting Kansas City in 2011, the team won another US Open Cup in 2012 before getting another shot at the MLS Cup in 2013. 120 minutes of football was not enough to separate Sporting and rivals Real Salt Lake, but the boys from Kansas City outlasted their opponents on penalties 7-6 to win the team’s second MLS Cup title. In the years since, they have added two more US Open Cups (2015, 2017) to their trophy cabinet. After losing out 1-0 to Houston Dynamo FC in the Quarterfinals of the 2023 MLS Playoffs, Sporting Kansas City fans will be hoping that players like Alan Pulido, Jake Davis, and Tim Melia can help them claim that much desired third MLS Cup in 2024.

How can I get cheap tickets to Sporting Kansas City games?

Ever since their rebranding in 2011, Sporting Kansas City (SKC) has become ever more popular with local fans, frequently selling out Children's Mercy Park and even occasionally using huge GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) for particularly big games (Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami CF will play there in April!). While this makes SKC games an awesome fan experience, it can be difficult to score tickets, especially for playoff games, cup games, key conference deciders, or rivalry matchups (see below). To get your hands on the cheapest tickets to Sporting Kansas City games, search the TicketX listings on this page and use our helpful TicketX seating chart to compare prices and locations. Tickets can be purchased from TicketX with a single click for the lowest commission fees! 

Will Sporting Kansas City play against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF in the 2024 regular season? 

Yes, Sporting Kansas City will play against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF on the following dates in 2024:

• Apr 13 - Inter Miami CF at Sporting Kansas City (GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium) 

For your best chance at landing the cheapest tickets to sold out Inter Miami CF games featuring Lionel Messi*, search TicketX listings on this page and use our trusty TicketX seating chart to compare seats and prices. Tickets can be purchased from TicketX with a single click for the lowest commission fees! 

**As with any sport, there is never a guarantee that an athlete will be available to play in a certain game. Injuries and other issues can rule Messi out of action, just as they can with any other athlete.

Sporting Kansas City Soccer Rivalries

Sporting Kansas City have strong rivalries with the Portland Timbers, Houston Dynamo FC, and Real Salt Lake based on conference battles and big playoff games with those teams over the years. Kansas City beat Real Salt Lake on penalties in the 2013 MLS Cup Final, the coldest ever edition of that game at a brisk 20 °F (−7 °C)! Sporting also have a burgeoning new state rivalry with the expansion team St. Louis City SC. 

Are Sporting Kansas City soccer games exciting?

Sporting Kansas City’s fans are extremely devoted, showing up no matter the weather to fill the stadium and cheer their team on to victory. Supporters groups, known all together as The Cauldron (going back to the team’s original name, the Wizards), pour into the North and South ends of the ground to create much of the impressive atmosphere at Children's Mercy Park. Go experience the passion at a Sporting Kansas City gameas soon as you can!