Sporting Kansas City opened the first leg of the club’s 2026 preseason on Saturday with a 60-minute scrimmage against Florida International University in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Sporting scored the only goal of the training game in the eighth minute when Shapi Suleymanov slotted home from 12 yards off an assist from Dejan Joveljic after Jake Davis had created a turnover high up the field.
Sporting almost added another in the second half when SKC Academy midfielder Makhi Francis rattled the underside of the crossbar from 20 yards out as the scrimmage ended 1-0.
Sporting will play another two scrimmages in Florida against MLS sides Chicago Fire (Jan. 24) and Charlotte FC (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. Florida International University
Jan. 17, 2026 – The Gardens North County District Park (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.)
Sporting Kansas City 1, Florida International University 0
Scoring Summary:
SKC – Shapi Suleymanov (Dejan Joveljic) 8’
Sporting Kansas City Lineup (First 30 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 30 minutes)
Stefan Cleveland; Jack Francka, Ethan Bartlow, Luca Antongirolami, Nikos Clarke-Tosczak; Cielo Tschantret, Kwaku Agyabeng, Makhi Francis; Shane Donovan, Zamir Loyo Reynaga, Stephen Afrifa
