Sporting Kansas City is set to close out the team’s home slate this weekend when FC Dallas visits Sporting Park for an afternoon showdown on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CT and will be available to stream on Apple TV, while the game will also be broadcast locally on the radio via Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM. Tickets are available via SeatGeek.
1. HOME FINALE BECKONS
Sporting Kansas City still has an opportunity to climb out of last place in the MLS standings as the team heads into its final two matches of the 2026 season. Sporting will host in-form FC Dallas in the team’s home finale on Saturday night before traveling to take on already-eliminated San Diego FC at Snapdragon Stadium on Decision Day next Saturday, Nov. 7.
With Sporting and Montreal both falling on the road midweek, Sporting knows that the calculation remains the same: one win combined with a Montreal loss would vault Sporting out of last place in the Supporters’ Shield standings, as Sporting would be tied on points but pip the Canadians on the wins tie-breaker.
Sporting set another unwanted record during Wednesday’s defeat to Minnesota, setting a new MLS record with 80 goals conceded, surpassing the 78 that the San Jose Earthquakes conceded in 2024.
As Sporting looks to avoid finishing in last place for the first time in club history, focus behind the scenes will key in on improving the team’s fortunes heading into the 2027 MLS Sprint Season and beyond.
2. DALLAS TO CLOSE OUT HOME SLATE
Sporting Kansas City closes out the team’s slate of home matches during the 2026 MLS season this weekend when the side plays host to FC Dallas at Sporting Park in a rare afternoon matchup set to kick off at 2 p.m. CT.
Sporting last faced Dallas almost two months ago in the reverse fixture at Toyota Stadium, falling to a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat to conclude an entertaining match. Sporting took a two-goal lead in the first half through Taylor Calheira and Stephen Afrifa before Dallas stormed back to take a 3-2 lead before the break. Sporting equalized through Calheira midway through the second half but a controversial penalty awarded to Dallas in second-half stoppage time allowed Petar Musa to fire home the winning goal from the spot.
Sporting last hosted Dallas on June 14, 2025, suffering a 4-2 defeat. Shapi Suleymanov gave Sporting an early lead with a stunning goal from distance but Dallas scored four unanswered to take a commanding lead before Santi Munoz scored a late consolation goal for the hosts.
Sporting trails the all-time regular-season series against Dallas 29-34-14, including a 17-13-9 mark at home.
3. CALHEIRA TALLIES FIFTH OF SEASON
Sporting Kansas City forward Taylor Calheira continued to find the back of the net on Wednesday night, tallying the opening goal in Sporting’s eventual 3-1 defeat to Minnesota United at Allianz Field.
Calheira reacted fastest when Jake Davis’ pass was deflected into his path behind the Loons backline, and the 24-year-old showed great composure to place the ball into the bottom corner and give his side a first-half lead. It was Calheira’s fifth goal of the season - all coming since the start of September - which places him second among players on the active roster behind Andre Luiz (7).
Calheira has scored goals at every level as he has risen through the ranks over the past few years, tallying 32 goals at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County before scoring 17 goals in his rookie season in MLS NEXT Pro with NYCFC II in 2024 and recording 21 goals in the USL Championship with FC Tulsa in 2025.
4. SPRINT SEASON SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
Major League Soccer this week announced Sporting KC’s 14-game schedule for the 2027 MLS Sprint Season, which will launch the league’s transition into its new summer-to-spring calendar to align the MLS schedule with the world’s top soccer leagues.
Sporting will kick off the Sprint Season in Houston with the earliest regular season match in club history on Saturday, Feb. 20 during MLS Is Back weekend and the team’s regular season campaign will conclude 10 weeks later on Saturday, May 1 when SKC hosts the Portland Timbers at Sporting Park.
Sporting KC will face all 14 opponents in the Western Conference once - seven home and seven away - over the course of 71 days, including matches on 11 straight Saturdays before a bye week on Decision Day (May 8).
The top eight teams in each conference will qualify for the 2027 MLS Cup Playoffs, which will be played in a single-elimination format and will culminate with the 2027 MLS Cup on Memorial Day Weekend in May. The 2027 MLS Sprint Season - the first season for new MLS Commissioner Larry Berg - will also determine qualification for the 2028 Concacaf Champions Cup and 2028 Leagues Cup.
5. HOMEGROWN LOYO REYNAGA SHINES AT U-15 WORLD CUP
Sporting Kansas City II midfielder Zamir Loyo Reynaga has been grabbing headlines over the past week as he represents Mexico’s U-15s for the U-15 World Cup and Festival from October 22-30 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The new international experience brings together 191 FIFA member associations for an innovative competition that will see over 900 matches played in one week.
Loyo Reynaga, who elevates to the Sporting KC first team at the start of 2027, has been the star of the show for Mexico, scoring 10 goals in the tournament through Thursday’s 7-0 victory over Italy.
