Sporting Kansas City is set to play game two of the club’s three-game homestand when the team hosts Charlotte FC at Children’s Mercy Park on Wednesday night. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT and will be available to stream on Apple TV+ and MLS Season Pass, while the game will also be broadcast locally on the radio via Sports Radio 810 WHB. Tickets are available via SeatGeek.com.
1. BOUNCING BACK AT HOME
Sporting Kansas City continues the club’s three-game homestand when the team hosts Charlotte FC at Children’s Mercy Park on Wednesday night. Sporting did not get off to the start they wanted in their return home, falling 4-2 to FC Dallas at Children’s Mercy Park in their last outing on June 14.
After showing plenty of grit and mental fortitude to post a four-game unbeaten run from May 14 through May 31, Sporting has now lost back-to-back games against LAFC on June 8 and Dallas on June 14. Sporting has a chance to put that right this upcoming week with a pair of home matches against Charlotte on Wednesday and Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
Sporting’s match against Charlotte will see the side finally complete the set of facing all other 29 teams in MLS. Sporting has yet to face the North Carolinians since they joined MLS in 2022.
Since taking the helm following the departure of longtime Manager Peter Vermes at the end of March, interim head coach Kerry Zavagnin has picked up 15 points (4-5-3 record), scoring 22 goals in 12 matches in the process - the third most in the Western Conference during that time.
2. INAUGURAL SHOWDOWN WITH CHARLOTTE FC
Sporting Kansas City continues the club’s three-game homestand when the team faces off against Charlotte FC at Children’s Mercy Park on Wednesday night in the first-ever meeting between the two sides. After Wednesday’s match, Sporting will have faced off against all 29 other teams in MLS as 2022 expansion side Charlotte are the only team Sporting is yet to face.
Sporting has already faced off against two newer expansion teams - 2023 expansion side and new rivals St. Louis and 2025 expansion team San Diego FC. Sporting’s first-ever meeting with San Diego took place just over a month ago on May 17, earning a 0-0 draw at Snapdragon Stadium after a gritty defensive performance.
Sporting KC has historically performed well in inaugural matchups against expansion sides in MLS regular-season play, going 11-5-6 in their first-ever matches with new teams. Charlotte has enjoyed a positive start to life in MLS, qualifying for the MLS Cup Playoffs in each of the last two seasons after missing out in their expansion season in 2022.
3. JOVELJIC BAGS SECOND ASSIST, CONTINUES HOT STREAK
Sporting Kansas City forward Dejan Joveljic continued his fine recent form in the club’s most recent match, tallying an assist in the club’s 4-2 defeat to FC Dallas at Children’s Mercy Park on June 14.
Joveljic, who has six goal contributions in his last five appearances, now has a team-leading 12 goal involvements (10 goals, two assists) in just 17 regular-season appearances this season. His 10 goals place him in a tie for fourth in the MLS Golden Boot charts.
Joveljic has tallied goal contributions in five straight matches for just the second time in his MLS regular-season career, having also tallied in five straight matches for the LA Galaxy from Feb. 25 - March 23, 2024. Joveljic’s run of goal involvements in five straight games is the longest active streak in MLS.
The 25-year-old has 21 goals in his last 34 MLS games (including postseason) - spanning a full season worth of matches. The 21-goal total would have been enough to win the regular-season Golden Boot in 2023 and 2021.
In addition, Joveljic’s 31 goals in MLS play since the start of 2024 is tied for the most in the league alongside Lionel Messi.
4. SULEYMANOV SCORES STUNNER
Sporting Kansas City forward Shapi Suleymanov showed the quality of his left foot this past weekend, scoring a splendid opener from distance in the club’s 4-2 loss to FC Dallas at Children’s Mercy Park on June 14.
Cutting inside on his left foot after being found by Dejan Joveljic, Suleymanov curled a brilliant effort that flew over Maarten Paes in the Dallas goal and into the top corner for the Russian’s second of the 2025 season and first from open play, having previously tallied his first goal for the club via a direct free kick in the 4-2 home loss to the Portland Timbers on April 13.
Suleymanov, who arrived in the offseason from Aris Thessaloniki in Greece alongside teammate Manu Garcia, currently ranks fourth in the team with six goal contributions this season (two goals, four assists), slotting in behind Joveljic (12), Daniel Salloi (9) and Garcia (8).
5. MUNOZ A THREAT OFF THE BENCH
Sporting Kansas City newcomer Santiago Munoz proved his threat off the bench once again in the club’s 4-2 loss to FC Dallas at Children’s Mercy Park on June 14 - scoring his second goal in his last three appearances, all coming as a substitute.
The Mexican-American forward received a pass from Manu Garcia before slotting home beyond Maarten Paes in the Dallas goal at the start of second-half stoppage time to make the final score 4-2. Munoz had previously scored his first goal off the bench to ice the club’s 3-1 win over the Houston Dynamo at Shell Energy Stadium on May 31.
Munoz is on loan with Sporting through the end of the 2025 season with the club holding an option to acquire the 22-year-old from Santos Laguna upon the expiry of the loan.
