Sporting KC Injury Updates, Ownership Responds and World Cup Transit

A times, there is just so much soccer we can’t keep up! 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.

Sporting KC Injury Update

Sporting Kansas City are back in action tonight for the third time in seven days. This time, they face the red-hot Vancouver Whitecaps and will look to bounce back from four straight losses in all competitions, including an embarrassing loss on Tuesday against lower division USL Championship side, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.

Catch our preview of the game.

One potential bit of good news is Manu Garcia’s availability. He missed Tuesday’s US Open Cup game with a knee injury and is officially on the injury report for the same reason.

However, he did travel with the team on Thursday and could be available. Perhaps it’s not worth the risk on that awful Vancouver turf, but we’ll see what manager Rapha Wicky decides to do. The remainders of the injury report are unchanged from last weekend with the second and third goalkeepers still being out, as well as Zorhan Bassong.

SKC Ownership (Sorta) Speaks Out

New (and not even officially announced by the team) owner of Sporting KC, Peter Mallouk, seems to be very online. Three weeks ago, he replied to someone who replied to me, telling fans he was planning to spend “a lot” on the team.

Now, he’s replying to my KC Soccer Journal colleague and Off to See the Wizards member, Carrie Robinson.

Carrie had tweeted, without tagging Mallouk, to ask if he was suffering alongside fans after the big US Open Cup loss. To which Mallouk replied, “Very much so. We will get this turned around.”

Sometimes fans feel a disconnect with ownership. I think this helps. Time will tell what Mallouk and everyone else get done to right the ship.

Fun fact: he now follows me on Twitter. With great power, comes great responsibility.

Sporting KC Inquired about Cavan Sullivan

Updated at 12:39PM: Somehow, I left out this story initially!

This week, Tom Bogert and Paul Tenorio of The Athletic reported that Sporting KC tried to acquire Cavan Sullivan on loan from the Philadelphia Union to get him a run of games.

“Before the MLS primary transfer window closed last month, Sporting KC expressed interest to Philly about a potential loan for Sullivan until the summer to get a run of games, sources briefed on the situation told The Athletic. The Union didn’t think it made sense and there were never serious talks, sources added.”

It’s hard to say David Lee wasn’t trying everything.

Kansas City’s World Cup Transportation

While other cities are charging hundreds of dollars to use their transportation system (and to be fair, FIFA isn’t chipping in despite projecting to make $11 billion on this World Cup), Kansas City came out with a cost-effective plan. Rides from the airport to downtown are free and you can do unlimited trips for $50 for the whole tournament, with cheaper options like $5/day if you are only in town for a single game.

World Cup Entertainment

In other KC 2026 World Cup information, the FREE FIFA Fan Fest released their performers, including KC local Tech N9ne.

Free passes are available now for the Fan Fest.

Quick Hits

• A fantastic look at how Sporting KC got into the position they are in by Home and Away podcast host, Drew VanderPloeg, is live over at Backheeled.

• Chivas have parted ways with Alan Pulido. What a steal of a deal Sporting KC got selling him and ultimately replacing him with Dejan Joveljic.
• SKC aren’t last in the MLS Power Rankings, so that’s something?
• The NWSL is considering switching their schedule to play from the Fall to Spring, like MLS will implement starting for the 2027-28 season. Jeff Kassouf of ESPN has more.
• The NWSL is also looking at a policy where sponsors need to have a deal with the league for players to wear their gear. I’m intrigued how that impacts someone like Kayla Sharples who wears Caddix, which are designed for women to protect them from specific injuries.