Preview: Sporting KC opens preseason slate against San Jose Earthquakes on Tuesday

The wait finally is over.

After more than three months away from the pitch, Sporting Kansas City returns to action Tuesday for a preseason scrimmage against the San Jose Earthquakes at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona. Kickoff is set for noon CT and live, in-game updates will be provided via @SportingKC on Twitter.

Tuesday’s tune-up is the first of six games Sporting Kansas City will play during the club’s 2017 preseason, presented by Children’s Mercy. Ninth-year manager Peter Vermes has no shortage of lineup options, with 25 under-contract players joined by two unsigned SuperDraft selections and nine members of the Swope Park Rangers.

• Sporting KC 2017 preseason roster

Elsewhere, Benny Feilhaber and Graham Zusi will remain with the U.S. Men’s National Team for Friday’s friendly versus Jamaica in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The duo will then join Sporting KC for the second phase of preseason training in Tucson from Feb. 14-25, highlighted by the Desert Diamond Cup.

Led by head coach Dominic Kinnear, the San Jose Earthquakes enter 2017 with hopes of snapping a four-year playoff drought. Sporting Kansas City, riding a six-year postseason streak of its own, won two of three head-to-head meetings in 2016 — including a 2-0 result on Decision Day that vaulted Vermes’ men into the MLS Cup Playoffs.

San Jose officially opened its preseason schedule with a 3-0 win against the Quakes U-18 Academy on Saturday, with Tommy Thompson and Darwin Ceren joining newcomer Olmes Garcia on the scoresheet.

Visit SportingKC.com/preseason for extensive coverage as Sporting Kansas City begins preparations for 2017 and its 22nd season as a charter member of Major League Soccer.

Sporting KC 2017 Preseason Schedule