Sporting Kansas City continued the first leg of the club’s 2026 preseason on Saturday with a 90-minute scrimmage against MLS side the Chicago Fire in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Chicago scored the only goal of the game in the 14th minute when DP winger Jonathan Bamba was played in behind the Sporting backline and he lofted a classy finish into the back of the net.
Sporting went close with a flurry of chances before halftime before a new XI took the field in the second half. With the game entering the closing stages, Sporting pushed hard for an equalizer with Jansen Miller seeing a goal ruled out for offside as the game ended 1-0.
Sporting plays one more scrimmage in Florida against MLS side Charlotte FC on Jan. 31 before heading back to Kansas City. The club then heads to Palm Springs, California to participate in the Coachella Valley Invitational from Feb. 3-14.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Chicago Fire FC
Jan. 24, 2026 – The Gardens North County District Park (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.)
Sporting Kansas City 0, Chicago Fire FC 1
Scoring Summary:
CHI – Jonathan Bamba 14’
Sporting Kansas City Lineup (First 45 minutes)
John Pulskamp; Justin Reynolds, Ian James, Wyatt Meyer, Jayden Reid; Jake Davis, Jacob Bartlett, Manu Garcia; Shapi Suleymanov, Dejan Joveljic, Daniel Salloi
Sporting Kansas City Lineup (Second 45 minutes)
Stefan Cleveland; Jack Francka, Jansen Miller, Ethan Bartlow, Nikos Clarke-Tosczak; Cielo Tschantret, Kwaku Agyabeng, Zamir Loyo Reynaga; Calvin Harris (Makhi Francis 76’), Shane Donovan, Stephen Afrifa
