Vermes, Besler, Zusi press conference tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT
Join Jimmy Nielsen and Soony Saad tonight for Off the Pitch
Besler, Zusi help make history for the U.S. in Mexico
Sporting Park to host U.S. MNT in FIFA World Cup Qualifier
Sporting KC to host Montreal Impact this Saturday
Bobby Convey named Big Brothers Big Sisters spokesperson
Sporting KC wears blue for child abuse prevention
Sporting KC draws 0-0 with New England on the road
Join Zusi: Stand for equality and fair play
Single-game tickets on sale for next eight matches
Away tickets available now
Sporting Park to host 2013 MLS All-Star Game, Vermes named coach
Follow Sporting KC online
VERMES, BESLER, ZUSI PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW AT 1 P.M. CT
Sporting Kansas City will hold their weekly press conference with Manager Peter Vermes, defender Matt Besler and midfielder Graham Zusi at 1 p.m. CT tomorrow at the Sporting Club Training Center in Swope Park.
The team will train at 11 a.m. CT and all coaches and players, including Besler and Zusi, will be available afterward for interviews. Media are encouraged to attend for interview and b-roll opportunities. Please contact Alice Schroeder (913-302-1565) if you are interested in attending.
JOIN JIMMY NIELSEN AND SOONY SAAD TONIGHT FOR OFF THE PITCH
This month's episode of Off the Pitch with Sporting Kansas City is being taped tonight from 6:30-7:30 p.m. CT at Hooters (1712 Village W Pkwy, Kansas City, KS) and fans are invited. Sporting Kansas City supporters are welcome to attend as Sporting KC Television Network hosts Callum Williams and Jake Yadrich record the hour-long show, including interviews with special guests Jimmy Nielsen and Soony Saad.
All in attendance will have the opportunity to show off their support throughout the taping as background extras for each of the on-camera segments. Off the Pitch with Sporting KC will air at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday on KSMO-TV.
ZUSI, BESLER HELP MAKE HISTORY FOR THE U.S. IN MEXICO
Sporting KC's Matt Besler and Graham Zusi, two of three MLS players in the starting lineup for the U.S. Men's National Team on Tuesday, returned to Estadio Azteca last night seven months after taking part in the United States first-ever victory on Mexico's home soil in a 1-0 win in an international friendly last August.
That upset lifted the United States all-time record in Mexico to 1-23-1 entering Tuesday's showdown in FIFA World Cup Qualifying on Matchday 3 of 10 on the road to Brazil. And with the stakes raised and odds against them -- Mexico was 68-1-6 all-time at home in World Cup qualifying, including a 13-0-1 record against the Americans -- Besler and Zusi helped the U.S. MNT produce another historic road result in a 0-0 draw in front of nearly 100,000 fans in Mexico City on Tuesday.
Besler, earning his first World Cup Qualifying appearance and second career cap, partnered with LA Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez to anchor the United States backline in a strong showing that limited Mexico to only three shots on goal.
Zusi, in his 10th international appearance, played 82 minutes on the right side of midfield for Jurgen Klinsmann, four days after starting in the United States 1-0 victory over Costa Rica. Zusi has now appeared in all four of the United States' matches in 2013 and each of the Yanks last six FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. The U.S. is 6-0-2 all-time with Zusi in the starting 11.
Read more reactions to their performances here.
SPORTING PARK TO HOST U.S. MNT IN WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Sporting Park will host the U.S. Men's National Team on Oct. 11 in the team's final home qualifying match for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, U.S. Soccer announced last week.
The United States returns to Sporting Park to play Jamaica, live on the ESPN family, WatchESPN and UniMas. Kickoff time and ticket information will be released at a later date.
Sporting Park, home to Major League Soccer's Sporting Kansas City, will host the U.S. Men's National Team for the third time since opening in June 2011. The state-of-the-art, $200+ million venue will also host the 2013 MLS All-Star Game on July 31.
SPORTING KC TO HOST MONTREAL IMPACT THIS SATURDAY
Sporting Kansas City will host the undefeated Montreal Impact at 7:30 p.m. CT this Saturday at Sporting Park. The match is presented by Sprint and the first 10,000 fans in the stadium will receive a Sporting KC magnetic schedule and car decal courtesy of Sprint. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.com and at the Sporting Park Box Offices.
BOBBY CONVEY NAMED BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS SPOKESPERSON
Big Brothers Big Sisters announced on Wednesday that Sporting Kansas City forward Bobby Convey will serve as a spokesperson for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City (BBBS-KC). The leadership role comes after Convey became a Big Brother to eight-year-old Jaidyn this year.
Convey will be taping a volunteer recruitment PSA aimed at finding more Bigs for over 500 waiting kids. Additionally, he will provide BBBS-KC Bigs and Littles with Sporting KC tickets and Convey will participate in meet-and-greet opportunities and other BBBS-KC events to raise money for the organization.
Convey joins Eric Hosmer of the Kansas City Royals and Eric Berry of the Kansas City Chiefs as official spokespeople for BBBS-KC.
SPORTING KC WEARS BLUE FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. All across the country, people will join together to Wear Blue to support and raise awareness of child abuse prevention. In Kansas City, nine non-profit agencies are working together to raise awareness about what to look for and how you can help. For more information, visit www.preventchildabusekc.org.
Sporting Kansas City is partnering with these agencies to raise awareness at the Sporting KC vs. Portland Timbers game on April 27 at Sporting Park. Guests will be greeted at the entrances to the stadium by Pinwheel Gardens. Pinwheels are the national symbol for Prevent Child Abuse America. Guests are free to take a pinwheel from the garden and bring it into the game. Kansas Children's Service League, the Kansas Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, will also be hosting a 120th Anniversary Tailgate before the game. For more information, you can contact Monica Enloe at menloe@kcsl.org.
SPORTING KC DRAWS 0-0 WITH NEW ENGLAND ON THE ROAD
Sporting Kansas City drew 0-0 against New England on Saturday afternoon in the Revolution's home opener at Gillette Stadium. Goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen recorded his second consecutive clean sheet while centerback Ike Opara made his debut for the club in a strong defensive showing by the visitors.
Sporting Kansas City held New England to three shots in the match, with the first attempt coming in the 77th minute, and did not concede a shot on goal in an MLS match for just the seventh time in the team's 18-year history.
With the clean sheet, Nielsen extends his shutout streak to 249 minutes. The stretch is the longest in MLS this season and the Revolution have now gone 412 minutes without a goal against Sporting KC dating back to July 2011.
JOIN ZUSI: STAND FOR EQUALITY AND FAIR PLAY
Graham Zusi is one of several MLS players featured in Major League Soccer's 2013 Don't Cross The Line campaign. The program promotes unity, respect, fair play, equality and acceptance throughout the soccer community. Other stars in the campaign are Dwayne De Rosario, Robbie Keane and Thierry Henry.
Click here to join Zusi by Taking the Pledge online at MLSSoccer.com.
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR NEXT EIGHT MATCHES
Tickets to Sporting Kansas City's next eight regular season home MLS matches are on sale to the general public now via Ticketmaster.com. Fans have the opportunity to secure their seats for the next eight regular season MLS matches at Sporting Park including the U.S. Open Cup rematch against the Seattle Sounders on May 8 and an MLS Cup Playoffs rematch versus the Houston Dynamo on May 26.
AWAY TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
Reserve your free away ticket to Sporting Kansas City's April 17th match at the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena, April 20th match at the LA Galaxy at The Home Depot Center, May 12th match at the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium and May 19th match at D.C. United at RFK Stadium by clicking here.
SPORTING PARK TO HOST 2013 MLS ALL-STAR GAME, VERMES NAMED COACH
Kansas City will be the host city for the 2013 MLS All-Star Game . The annual showcase event will feature three days of festivities, culminating in a match between the League's top players and a renowned international club on Wednesday, July 31 at Sporting Park, home of Sporting Kansas City.
The 2013 MLS All-Star Game will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. CT on the ESPN, Univision, TSN and RDS family of networks. Exact networks will be announced at a later date. Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes, a finalist for MLS Coach of the Year each of the last two seasons, will coach the 2013 MLS All-Stars.
The 2013 All-Star Game will mark the 10th time that an elite international club has played the MLS All-Stars, who are 6-2-1 in those matches. In addition to honoring the best players in MLS, the game has featured successful, world-famous clubs such as Manchester United (2010 & 2011), Everton FC (2009), Chelsea FC (2006 & 2012), and Chivas de Guadalajara (2003). The opponent for this year's game will be announced at a later date.
FOLLOW SPORTING KC ONLINE
Sporting Kansas City fans looking to keep up with the club on the worldwide web now have a place to go. The social media page on SportingKC.com features Twitter account information for the club, its players as well as many staff members. Additionally, fans may take advantage of the Media Recap page for all the latest independent news coverage available online.
Also, Sporting Kansas City's 2013 media guide is now available online and fans can find all the latest information for Sporting Kansas City matches at SportingKC.com/GameOn
