At times, there is just so much soccer we can’t keep up! Check out the Digital Crawl archives if you missed any stories. If you like a quick news round up, we do it on every episode of the For the Glory KC podcast.

Rumor: Sporting KC Front Office Grows

A little over 10 months ago, Sporting Kansas City hired David Lee as the new President of Soccer Operations and General Manager. He came into what appeared to be a bare cupboard of a front office after the departure of Peter Vermes earlier in the 2025 regular season. Mike Burns, who has since left, was still around as Sporting Director. And there are rumors of as little as one full-time scout was signed.

The build was slow, with Lee focused on first hiring a coach, which turned out to be Raphael Wicky. And then on adding players to an incredibly thin roster. In February, news broke of two staff members joining: Kyle Emerick as Head of Performance Analysis and Chris Atkins as First Team Performance Analyst. Yesterday, Graham Zusi joined the club as a scout.

A new rumor has emerged from reporters Simon Austin and Ian Westbrook that Francisco Belo is leaving Nottingham Forest to join Sporting KC.

Belo is the Head of Football Intelligence at Forest and will reportedly become a Vice President for Sporting KC and “will be focused on data, analytics and performance analysis.” His prior job was the top guy in the Data Analytics Department at the West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire club for two seasons. Before that, he was at Wolverhampton Wanderers for three-and-a-half years as First Team Football Research and Methodology Analyst. And prior to that he was with Everton as the Technical Coaching Analyst for another five-and-a-half years.

Last month, when David Lee last spoke with the media, he gave an update on how hiring a staff was going.

While it’s not where he wants it, this is a step in the right direction. Presumably Belo will be one of the department heads will then build out his team.

Ethan Bartlow Loaned Out

Sporting KC has a lot of center backs on their roster. Before Monday, the total was seven. Now, it’s down to six with Ethan Bartlow heading out on a season-long loan to USL Championship side, Tampa Bay Rowdies.

“We are delighted to add Ethan to improve the quality of our squad and help us continue to get better each day,” said Rowdies Head Coach Dominic Casciato. “He’s excited to be here and compete, so we are looking forward to seeing what he brings to the group.”

That move will give the former first round draft pick a chance to play, as he was clearly buried behind the new defensive signings of Or Blorian and Moises Mosquera.

Bartlow’s contract he signed in February runs through the end of the 2026 season with options for the 2027 sprint season and the 2027-28 schedule flip season in MLS. It’s possible we’ve seen Bartlow in Sporting Blue for the final time as the team has their two aforementioned signings along with Ian James, Diego Borges, Jansen Miller and Wyatt Meyer all under contract.

Sporting KC has the ability to recall Bartlow at any time. It seems unlikely he’d be needed without a run of injuries.

Sporting KC Transfer Updates, Pochettino, MLS Commissioner and World Cup Drama

Sporting KC Injury Updates

At Sporting Kansas City training on Tuesday, coach Wicky confirmed Taylor Calheira, Justin Reynolds and Diego Borges are all back in training. Wicky indicated Calheira was the furthest out, with his availability for the game against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday the most in doubt.

Match Preview: A Test of Attitude and Altitude as SKC Travels to Colorado

KC Current Injury Updates

The Kansas City Current also got positive news at practice today. Michelle Cooper was back in practice and potentially available for Friday’s game against first place Gotham FC. Izzy Rodriguez, who rolled her ankle in the last practice before the 1-1 draw to the Houston Dash, was in practice. Laney Rouse on the other hand, remains out along with fellow right back Ellie Bravo-Young.

Malawi World Cup Bound

Speaking of the KC Current, their star striker won’t be available for a bit longer. Temwa Chawinga and her sister Tabitha have lifted Malawi to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final after a victory over Algeria today.

That follows at 2-1 victory over Ghana that has guaranteed that Malawi will play in the Women’s World Cup for the first time ever next year in Brazil!

The Chawinga sisters are responsible for an astounding 72 percent of Malawi’s total expected goals (xG) in the WAFCON tournament. And Temwa is tied for the Golden Boot lead heading into the final.

Malawi will play Cameroon in the final on Sunday at 2:oo PM CST on bEIN Sports.

Quick Hits

• Real Salt Lake are selling future USMNT winger, Zavier Gozo to Crystal Palace for around $15 million.
• The Colorado Rapids have sold CB Lucas Herrington to Hull City for a possible $23 million transfer fee.
• In a heartwarming story, check out the free soccer league the KC Current are sponsoring in Kansas City’s historic Northeast.