A times, there is just so much soccer we can’t keep up. The Digital Crawl will allow us to catch up while paying homage to Digital Takiwira, the first goal scorer in Kansas City Wizards history. Not to mention it’s a bit of a ‘digital crawl’ on the bottom of the screen on ESPN and various news channels. Check out the Digital Crawl archives if you missed any stories.

Plus, it’s a nice tie in for a similar segment at the end of every episode of the For the Glory KC podcast.

Watch Sporting KC Preseason

Sporting Kansas City have completed their first leg of preseason and set off for Indio, CA on Tuesday. They went 1-2-0 during the first leg of preseason with a 1-0 win over FIU and 1-0 losses to the Chicago Fire and Charlotte FC.

All those games were behind closed doors and little more than lineups were available. Starting Saturday, when Sporting KC face Minnesota United FC, the games will be streamed at SportingKC.com/Live. Or, if you happen to be visiting Palm Springs, you can go live and watch the Coachella Valley Invitational. If you are stuck at work, you can follow along on Sporting KC’s PR Twitter account for live updates.

In addition to all the MLS teams present, starting on February 15th, the NWSL has teams playing, including the KC Current.

Rapha Wicky Takes to the Sideline

For the majority of preseason, new Sporting KC head coach Raphael Wicky has been relegated to observer. Starting this past weekend, his P-1 visa came in, and he officially was allowed to coach.

On the sideline & fully available as our season preparations continue. pic.twitter.com/IpavmLvuIG

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) January 31, 2026

The first game with Wicky at the helm was the aforementioned 1-0 loss to Charlotte, but just two days before, Wicky didn’t have his visa. It’s easy to see how there could be a delay in implementing his plan with everything coming together so late.

Also, if you missed it, Charlotte released a very zoomed in video where you can see a few superstars (Zaha and Biel) combine to score on SKC’s mostly non-rostered players.

Poetry in motion 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/gFlxe1kbE7

— Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) January 31, 2026

SKC Preseason Roster Update

With Sporting KC heading to California, they also released an updated preseason roster. Ethan Bartlow, the only player of the three trialists to not sign a contract after phase one, remains on trial. The former Houston Dynamo center back would seem to have an opening to make the team with just three CBs on the roster (Ian James, Jansen Miller, Wyatt Meyer).

Sporting KC Add Two Defenders in Meyer and Reid

There are a few changes worth noting phase two’s preseason roster. Sporting KC’s second first round draft pick, Nikos Clarke-Tosczak is not with the team. A few SKC Academy players didn’t make this trip, including Zamir Loyo Reynaga (15), Luca Antongirolami (15), Ty Haas (17) and Kael Taylor (17).

The only new Academy player to make the journey is goalkeeper Brendan Mikuliza (17). Carter Derksen (18), Makhi Francis (19), Jack Francka (16), and Nate Young (17) are all back for phase two. As are SKC II players Shane Donovan (19), Johann Ortiz (19) and now, Jacob Molinaro (19).

There are no new trialists.

Zamir Loyo Reynaga is an interesting absence as it was reported this morning he signed with the first team. The KC Soccer Journal has been unable to confirm that news with the team.

NEW: Per sources, Sporting KC have signed their academy prospect Zamir Loyo-Reynaga (‘11) to a homegrown deal.

ZLR will get a deal to 2030, start with 2’s in 2026, and then move onto 1’s deal. Deal done. Announcement probably tomorrow. ZLR is the first American ‘11 to sign pro. pic.twitter.com/qvaUBXca3B

— USMNTProspects (@ProspectsUsmnt) February 4, 2026

Part of the absences could be in preparation for Sporting KC II’s preseason, which has to be starting any day. Yesterday, SKC II announced the hiring of their coaching staff led by head coach Leo Tschantret. (Update 10:09AM: Zamir is heading to U-15 USMNT camp later this week.) 

Bayley Feist Re-Signs

The KC Current are also in preseason, but they are being a bit more secretive about it. We know they played a closed-door scrimmage against the Denver Summit, but we don’t know much of anything else. No lineups. One goal (by a player not on the roster). And nothing else. (Denver did release a video, but Nick Cushing called the KC Current “Kansas”, so we have to discount that immediately).

One exciting bit of news is the return of midfielder Bayley Feist. She was the last player that the team hadn’t made an announcement on her departure, and another team didn’t announce her arrival. The mystery was put to rest on Tuesday, when Feist re-signed through the 2026 NWSL season.

This will mark her third season with the Kansas City Current. Feist has never been a regular starter, but she’s an important depth piece in the midfield. In 2025 she only got 173 minutes over 10 appearances in league play. She had a more starring role in the Teal Rising Cup over the summer. In 2024, she was on the field more with 576 minutes over 18 appearances.

Feist will be important to bolster a midfield that is missing Vanessa DiBernardo who remains on maternity leave after the birth of her first child. Feist can play all three midfield spots. With Ally Sentnor and/or Debinha possible needed on the forward line more, Feist has a path to a lot more minutes this season.

When she’s gotten on the field in recent seasons, she’s absolutely looked like she belonged.

KC Current Expands their Footprint to Brazil

On Monday, the Kansas City Current announced the launch of Teal Rising Academy Brazil. Based out of the city of Itu, Sao Paulo in Southern Brazil, this expands the Global Footprint of the Current.

The plan is initially to have U-15 and U-17 age groups.

“Launching the Teal Rising Academy in Brazil is a powerful extension of who we are as a club,” said Angie and Chris Long, co-owners of the Kansas City Current. “This academy is an important part of our multi-club vision and our belief that the future of women’s soccer is global. Brazil has one of the richest soccer cultures in the world, and we are proud to invest in young players, provide opportunity and build meaningful pathways for the next generation.”

This adds to the multi-club setup the Current launched with the purchase of the HB Køge Women last year and the launch of the Teal Rising Academy network here in the United States. The Longs appear to be in a bit of a multi-team arms race with Washington Spirit owner Michelle Kang, who is rumored to be adding a Liga F team in Spain to her cadre of clubs. 

Quick Hits

• The Men’s FIFA World Cup trophy is coming on a tour around the United States, Canada and Mexico. The trophy will come to Kansas City on April 18th and 19th.
• FIFA released their Global Transfer Report on Women’s football last week. Taylor Vincent provides an excellent breakdown. It will surprise no one to know more money than ever is being spent on the transfer of female players.
• Six MLS cities will host games during the 2028 LA Olympic Games: Columbus, Nashville, NYCFC, St. Louis, San Jose and San Diego. All cities, besides SJ and NYC, are not World Cup cities.
• San Diego FC got off to a good start in Concacaf Champions Cup, even without Chucky Lozano who remains outside the team’s plans despite being their highest paid player.