League

Sporting KC forward Alan Pulido to miss 2022 season following knee surgery

Alan Pulido dribbling - Sporting KC at Minnesota United FC - Aug. 21, 2021

Sporting Kansas City announced today that forward Alan Pulido will miss the 2022 MLS season due to a knee injury.

Pulido is scheduled to have surgery on his left knee on Monday, Jan. 17, and is expected to be sidelined for nine to 12 months. The surgery will be performed under the care of Dr. Bert Mandelbaum and Dr. Clint Soppe in Los Angeles.

Pulido, 30, has recorded 15 goals and eight assists in two seasons with Sporting since joining MLS in December 2019 from LIGA MX club Chivas de Guadalajara. He has started 29 of 36 appearances for Sporting in all competitions, helping the team to a first-place finish in the Western Conference in 2020 and a third-place finish in 2021.

Sporting will train in Arizona from Jan. 17 to Feb. 19 for the team's 2022 preseason, presented by Children's Mercy. Manager Peter Vermesā€™ side will then kick off the MLS season on Feb. 27, visiting Atlanta United FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, before hosting Houston Dynamo FC in a highly anticipated Childrenā€™s Mercy Park home opener on March 5.