Sporting KC
Is the Sporting KC Defense Getting Better?
Sporting Kansas City are having an abysmal season on defense. But are all the new signings actually improving the situation?
Sporting Kansas City are on pace to allow the most goals in a single season in the 31-year history of Major League Soccer. With 11 games to go in the schedule, Sporting KC have allowed 58 goals. That puts them on pace to allow 86 goals in a 34-game season.
That would be the worst ever performance, breaking the record set by the San Jose Earthquakes in 2024 when they allowed 78 goals. But there is time to improve.
Since the World Cup break, Sporting KC have added three new defenders to the starting lineup. Lots of fans are still questioning if they have anyone of any quality on the backline. Obviously, defense is a team game and the back four defenders, and the goalkeepers don’t usually deserve all the blame. But let’s look a little closer.
Post-World Cup Improvement?
As an observer, many of the new defenders pass the eye test. Moises Mosquera and Emir Karic have really stood out, with Or Blorian showing better than the guys he replaced but leaving a fair amount of room for improvement.
Through the first 14 MLS regular-season matches prior to July 16, 2026, Sporting KC conceded high-probability scoring chances at a historically poor rate. In the nine regular-season matches played since July 16, their underlying chance-suppression numbers and surface metrics showed clear tightening even if their record is still quite poor.
Using data from Transfermarkt, let’s look the trends.
| Metric | Pre-World Cup | Post-World Cup |
| Matches Played | 14 | 9 |
| xGA Total | 28.7 | 11.8 |
| xGA / 90 min | 2.05 | 1.31 |
| Goals Conceded (GA) | 36 | 19 |
| GA / 90 min | 2.57 | 2.11 |
| xGA Over/Underperformance (GA – xGA) | +7.3 | +7.2 |
| Big Chances Conceded / 90 | 3.2 | 2.1 |
| Shots on Target Faced / 90 | 6.8 | 4.9 |
xGA = Expected Goals Allowed.
Credit: Thad Bell
In every single metric, the defense is showing itself as better. They are expected to have allowed 0.74 less goals per game and actually allowing 0.46 less goals per game. They are giving up less chances and facing less shots on target.
Those numbers also don’t factor in a few anomalies of the games after the World Cup break. Two games saw Sporting KC play more than half a match down a man after early red cards. Plus, the first game against St. Louis City was decided by a penalty kick that PRO Referees agree was a mistake to award.
They are still not very good numbers, but there is clear improvement. SKC remain the only team in MLS to not record a shutout all year. Will they get one in the next 11 games?
All eyes will be on the team to see if signs continue to improve or if things somehow get worse.
Editorial: Is it Time for Sporting KC to Part with Wicky?
Playing for Pride: SKC Faces the Dynamo
Across State Lines: Gioacchini Injury Ends His Season
Match Preview: Denver Summit at KC Current
Juice Boxes and Post Game Stats: Sporting KC II Close Season with Win
Streaks grow and streaks are broken. And some things defy expectation in Sporting Kansas City loss to Union
KC Current fall 2-0 as San Diego makes Waves
The Worst Blown Lead in Sporting KC History?
Juice Boxes and Post Game Stats: Disappointment on the West Coast
Good write up Chad. Fingers crossed we get a clean sheet sooner than later. I’m not holding my breath for one this weekend though.
Thanks Jon.
Yeah, this would be a tough one to pull off a shutout.
It seems to me that the main defensive problem right now is the midfield. No combo of double pivot has provided the coverage and positioning needed.
I think the 4-4-2 is wrong for the people. The LM and RM are not mids so we really only have 2 midfielders. I’d rather see a 3-5-2 so we have 3 proper mids. Not sure what formation works but I’m sure it isn’t this one
I’d extra up vote this if I could.
I would really like to see the 3-5-2 trotted out for the remainder of the season. Especially with LBJ in a double pivot (alongside whoever stays healthy). We really need a clean sheet this season.
The Home and Away guys (Drew and Cody) were advocating for a 3-4-3. That was before the Blorian news (which I guess I should write up at some point, whoops!)
I’m not sure that solves the lack of a d-mid issue, because the same two midfielders are likely in the middle of the 4. But it’s an extra CB at the sacrifice of a proper 10 (which this team doesn’t have right now anyways).
Agree with other commenters that who knows if the defenders we bought are actually good. The tactics we use give us a delicious soft underbelly that opponents happily and greedily feast upon. Our system is purpose built for getting torched in transition and hanging fullbacks out to dry in structure.