Sporting Kansas City heads north of the border this weekend to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 9:30 p.m. CT and will be available to stream on Apple TV+ as well as MLS Season Pass, while the game will also be broadcast locally on the radio via Sports Radio 810 WHB.
1. ONE LOSS IN LAST FIVE
Sporting Kansas City travels to the northwest this weekend, taking on the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place on Saturday night. Sporting just closed out a stretch that saw the team play five of six games at home dating back to June 14, going a disappointing 1-2-2 in the five home games, while the team won their only road game at Colorado on July 4.
Daniel Salloi scored his sixth goal of the season this past weekend to salvage a point in the 1-1 draw against New York City FC at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night, extending the team’s scoring run to nine matches, their longest run of games with a goal in MLS play since a run of 10 games from Sept. 11 to Nov. 3, 2021.
Sporting remains five points out of the ninth and final postseason spot and is in the midst of a run that sees the team play nine consecutive games against teams currently occupying playoff spots. Since taking the helm at the end of March, interim head coach Kerry Zavagnin has picked up 23 points (6-6-5 record). The team has earned five results in the team’s last eight away matches (3-3-2) after earning just two results in their previous 18 away matches (1-16-1).
2. HEADING NORTH TO TAKE ON THE ‘CAPS
Sporting Kansas City hits the road this weekend as the team heads north of the border for the first and only time this season to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place on Saturday night.
Sporting last visited Vancouver just over a year ago on July 17, 2024, falling to a 2-1 defeat. An own goal from Robert Voloder gave the ‘Caps the lead at halftime before William Agada fired home from close range to equalize for the visitors, only for Fafa Picault to head home a late winner and seal the points for Vancouver.
The Whitecaps took the season series last season, having also claimed a 2-1 win at Children’s Mercy Park on May 29, 2024. Vancouver star Ryan Gauld scored a brace to give the visitors a commanding lead before Marinos Tzionis fired home a late consolation goal for Sporting.
Sporting leads the all-time series 12-8-5, including a 5-5-3 mark on the road. However, Sporting has not won at BC Place in their last four attempts since Feb. 29, 2020.
3. SALLOI BAGS IMPORTANT BIRTHDAY GOAL
Sporting Kansas City forward Daniel Salloi got back on the scoresheet this past weekend, scoring the equalizing goal on his 29th birthday in the club’s 1-1 draw with New York City FC at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night.
The goal was Salloi’s sixth goal of the season, second most on the team, and his first since the 3-3 home draw with New England on May 24. With six goals and four assists this season, Salloi now has double-digit goal contributions for the fourth time in five seasons.
The Hungarian is the fifth player in club history to celebrate a birthday with a regular season goal, joining William Agada (9/17/22), Johnny Russell (4/8/18), Soony Saad (8/17/11) and Paul Wright (7/29/98).
Salloi has 53 regular season goals in his MLS career and 66 goals across all competitions for the club. Both rank fourth most on the club’s all-time charts, while he sits just one behind Dom Dwyer and Johnny Russell who are in a tie for second with 67 goals in all competitions for Sporting KC.
Salloi has 94 regular season goal contributions (53 goals, 41 assists) in his MLS career and 113 goal contributions (66 goals, 47 assists) for Sporting in all competitions, both of which rank fourth most in team history as well.
4. PULSKAMP AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS
Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper John Pulskamp continues to impress during his first season as the full time starting goalkeeper for the club, recording another three saves in the team’s 1-1 draw with New York City FC at Children’s Mercy Park last Saturday night.
Pulskamp has 81 saves on the season, placing him in a tie for second among all MLS goalkeepers - only one save behind Atlanta United’s Brad Guzan. In addition, Pulskamp has conceded 42 goals on 52.1 expected goals against, meaning he has allowed 10 fewer goals than expected this season.
Pulskamp recently earned three straight MLS Team of the Matchday selections in a stretch that saw Sporting secure two wins and one draw from June 25 to July 4, while he also has two assists during the 2025 regular season.
The 24-year-old is the only Sporting player to start in all 25 matches this season across all competitions. Pulskamp has made 67 appearances for Sporting since signing at the start of the 2020 campaign, tallying 14 shutouts and 22 wins across all competitions.
5. KORTKAMP REPRESENTS SKC AT MLS NEXT ALL-STAR GAME
Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Jack Kortkamp represented the club at the fourth annual MLS NEXT All-Star Game on Monday, July 21 at Parmer Field, in Austin, Texas.
Kortkamp is the fourth Sporting KC Academy product to represent the club at the MLS NEXT All-Star Game, joining Edgar Bazan (2022), Nati Clarke (2023) and fellow first-team player Ian James (2024).
The match showcased the future soccer stars of North America in an East vs. West showdown, with Kortkamp playing the final 45 minutes for the West team in a 4-3 loss.
Born in Oakville, Canada, and raised in Maple Grove, Minnesota, Kortkamp developed in the Sporting KC Academy, competing at the U-14 through U-19 levels from 2021-2024. He signed with Sporting as a Homegrown Player in December to become the youngest active goalkeeper in Major League Soccer.
