When: Saturday, February 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas
How to Watch: MLS Season Pass

Last Result:
SKC: 1-0 Loss vs Inter Miami (CONCACAF Champions Cup)
Austin FC: N/A

Preview:

The 2025 regular season is here!

Sporting Kansas City open their campaign by travelling to Q2 Stadium to take on Austin FC. A cast of new players, combined with some returning members, look to get off on the right foot and earn the club a spot in the playoffs at the end of the season.

But we have a long time until we can even start thinking of playoffs. Right now, the focus is on winning at home.

According to manager Peter Vermes, the team is ready to kick off the season, but with match congestion to start the campaign, minutes will be a challenge. Due to weather, the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup was moved to Wednesday, making the turnaround for the opener just 3 days. Three days after the road match with Austin, the club heads to Miami for the second leg of the series.

“Part of the challenge is that you have a bunch of guys that were in preseason that didn’t really play a ton and if they did, they played small minutes. So we have to use these games to help get minutes for different guys,” Vermes said.

Vermes added that roster rotation will be key and dependent on who starts each game and how many minutes each player has contributed.

Wednesday’s match saw three of Sporting’s offseason acquisitions debut for the club: Forward Dejan Joveljic, midfielder Manu Garcia, and midfielder Jacob Bartlett. Bartlett and Joveljic started the game, with the latter subbing out in the 62nd minute. Garcia came on for Memo Rodriguez in the 62nd, as well.

Just one day removed from the game, SKC added right back Andrew Brody from Real Salt Lake.

READ MORE: What Should Expectations be for Sporting KC in 2025?

Despite the loss, the team did show a strong defensive performance against a high quality attacking side.

“I think after this game against Miami, we’ve shown the progress and the things we’ve been working on in preseason,” SKC midfielder Jake Davis said. “It’s another opportunity to showcase that and get a result.”

Austin and Kansas City split the season series in 2024, with each club winning the home leg:

• May 18 – Austin FC 3 Sporting KC 2
• June 29 – Sporting KC 2 Austin FC 0

The Verde and Black had a busy offseason as well, notably signing former Sporting Kansas City defender/midfielder Ilie Sanchez as a free agent from LAFC.

The club lost some attacking firepower with the transfer of Sebastian Driussi to River Plate, but secured the transfer of Monterrey striker Brandon Vazquez and Myrto Uzuni in the offseason.

Vazquez returns to MLS after scoring 14 goals in 49 matches in Liga MX, meanwhile Uzuni joins from La Liga side Granada where he scored 49 goals in 106 games.

Austin can also still count on Jader Obrian and Diego Rubio in the attack who combined for 11 goals in 2024.

Like Sporting, Austin missed out on the playoffs in 2024 bringing an end to former Kansas City Wizard Josh Wolff’s tenure as head coach. Austin FC brought in Spanish head coach Nico Estevez to take the reigns after a three-ish-year stint with FC Dallas.

With both clubs making big changes after a disappointing 2024, Saturday’s matchup could be the first taste of what’s to come for each side and a look at who may have made the better key moves.

Prediction

I don’t think I’ve ever been correct about a prediction. But a new season means a fresh slate. I’m cautiously optimistic. While I was impressed with the performance on Wednesday night, we likely will see a rotated squad in Austin. Going on the road wasn’t exactly one of SKC’s strengths in 2024. All that being said, I’m going with a solid 1-1 draw with Joveljic opening his SKC tally.