Sporting Kansas City announced on Monday the club’s updated schedule and roster for the 2022 preseason, presented by Children’s Mercy.
The team kicked off preseason training on Jan. 17 in Phoenix, Ariz., for five weeks of preparation for the upcoming Major League Soccer season and already have three exhibition matches in the books: a closed-door scrimmage against the United States Men's National Team, a scoreless draw against the Colorado Rapids in the Desert Showcase and, most recently, a 2-2 draw against the Portland Timbers with goals from Johnny Russell and Nicolas Isimat-Mirin.
Sporting's preseason match-up with El Paso Locomotive FC, originally scheduled for this Wednesday, will no longer be played. The club will have two additional preseason contests before returning to Kansas City, facing USL Championship hosts Phoenix Rising FC at 5:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 12 before closing the preseason campaign with a trip to Austin, Texas, to take on Toronto FC at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 19.
Saturday's match against Phoenix Rising FC will be live-streamed on SportingKC.com/Live and in the Sporting KC Mobile App. Nate Bukaty and Jacob Peterson will be on the call with the stream available to Sporting fans in Kansas and Missouri (excluding the St. Louis area per MLS policy).
Fans can also follow @SKCMatchday on Twitter for live updates for all Sporting Kansas City matches, including play-by-play coverage of the team's preseason finale against Toronto FC on Feb. 19.
Date |
Time (CT) |
Opponent |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Friday, Jan. 21 |
12 p.m. |
USMNT (closed) |
Phoenix, Ariz. |
Saturday, Jan. 29 |
5 p.m. |
Colorado Rapids (0-0 draw) |
Tucson, Ariz. |
Thursday, Feb. 3 |
12 p.m. |
Portland Timbers (2-2 draw) |
Phoenix, Ariz. |
Saturday, Feb. 12 |
5:30 p.m. |
Phoenix Rising FC |
Phoenix, Ariz. |
Saturday, Feb. 19 |
3 p.m. |
Toronto FC |
Austin, Texas |
Sporting Kansas City offseason additions Logan Ndenbe and Robert Voloder are now with the team in Arizona, while the club awaits the impending arrival of 20-year-old forward Marinos Tzionis.
In addition, a pair of Sporting KC Academy players are linking up with the squad in goalkeeper Matthew Hudson and midfielder Jayvin Van Deventer while freshly signed Sporting KC II forward Rauf Salifu has also reported to Arizona to train with the first team.
MLS SuperDraft selections Esai Easley and Brett St. Martin have returned to Kansas City for the start of Sporting KC II’s preseason, though Easley is recovering from an ankle injury sustained in Arizona. Also returning to Kansas City for SKC II preseason are midfielder Jahon Rad, trialist Ethan Bandre and Academy player Coby Jones. Sporting KC Academy player Ryan Reid has also returned to KC.
# |
Player |
Position |
Age |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
John Pulskamp |
Goalkeeper |
20 |
2 |
Ben Sweat |
Defender |
30 |
3 |
Andreu Fontas |
Defender |
32 |
4 |
Robert Voloder |
Defender |
20 |
5 |
Nicolas Isimat-Mirin |
Defender |
30 |
6 |
Uri Rosell |
Midfielder |
29 |
7 |
Johnny Russell |
Forward |
31 |
8 |
Graham Zusi |
Defender |
35 |
9 |
Alan Pulido |
Forward |
30 |
10 |
Gadi Kinda |
Midfielder |
27 |
11 |
Khiry Shelton |
Forward |
28 |
12 |
Kortne Ford |
Defender |
26 |
13 |
Michael Lenis^^ |
Defender |
18 |
15 |
Roger Espinoza |
Midfielder |
35 |
17 |
Jake Davis |
Midfielder |
20 |
18 |
Logan Ndenbe |
Defender |
21 |
19 |
Grayson Barber |
Forward |
21 |
20 |
Daniel Salloi |
Forward |
25 |
21 |
Felipe Hernandez |
Midfielder |
23 |
22 |
Kendall McIntosh |
Goalkeeper |
28 |
23 |
Tyler Freeman |
Forward |
19 |
24 |
Kayden Pierre |
Defender |
18 |
25 |
Ozzie Cisneros |
Midfielder |
17 |
26 |
Jayvin Van Deventer^^ |
Midfielder |
18 |
27 |
Marinos Tzionis |
Forward |
20 |
28 |
Cam Duke |
Midfielder |
20 |
29 |
Tim Melia |
Goalkeeper |
35 |
32 |
Jose Mauri |
Midfielder |
25 |
42 |
Rauf Salifu^ |
Forward |
19 |
48 |
Kaveh Rad |
Defender |
20 |
50 |
Aljaz Dzankic^ |
Defender |
19 |
54 |
Remi Walter |
Midfielder |
26 |
55 |
Matthew Hudson^^ |
Goalkeeper |
16 |
80 |
Spencer Glass^ |
Defender |
24 |
^Sporting KC II Player
^^Sporting KC Academy Player
Led by Manager Peter Vermes and captain Johnny Russell, Sporting will begin the team's 27th season on Sunday, Feb. 27 against Atlanta United FC inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the earliest regular season match in club history airing live on FS1. The club's highly anticipated home opener then arrives on Saturday, March 5 against longtime rivals Houston Dynamo FC with kick off at Children's Mercy Park set for 2:30 p.m. CT on Univision.
Season tickets for Sporting Kansas City's 2022 campaign and several 2022 ticket packages and promotions are available by calling 888-4KC-GOAL or visiting SportingKC.com.
