Is the Sporting KC Defense Getting Better?

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.

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.