When: Saturday, September 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Children’s Mercy Park
How to Watch: MLS Season Pass

Last Result:
SKC: 2-1 Loss at Real Salt Lake
Whitecaps: 4-0 Win vs Forge FC (Canadian Championship)

Preview:

Sporting Kansas City return to Children’s Mercy Park for the penultimate home game of the 2025 regular season to host Western Conference contenders Vancouver Whitecaps.

SKC come in to the matchup on a two-game losing streak against Austin FC at home and Real Salt Lake on the road, both by a score of 2-1.

Saturday’s matchup against the Whitecaps carries weight. Vancouver have already clinched a playoff berth and are alive in the fight for the one seed. Meanwhile, a loss or draw for SKC could mean elimination from the playoffs if the San Jose Earthquakes take care of business at home against St. Louis City.

It’s worth noting that SKC would also be eliminated with a loss are draw and a win for Real Salt Lake against LAFC, or a win for FC Dallas over the Colorado Rapids.

If SKC can earn three points against a top team in the league, it would also help them pull further away from the dreaded Wooden Spoon.

The two sides played at BC Place back on July 26, with the Whitecaps shutting out SKC in a 3-0 win. Manu Garcia and Erik Thommy were not available for that match and have since both made returns to the pitch.

Along with being tied for scoring the fifth most goals in the league as a club (54), Vancouver have also allowed the least amount of goals in their net with 31.  On the flipside, Sporting sneak into the top half of the leagues in goals scored with 45, led by Dejan Joveljic’s 17. But they’ve allowed a league worst 61 goals

Vancouver’s midweek 4-0 thrashing of Forge FC in the Canadian Championship came days after a 7-0 demolition of Supporters’ Shield frontrunners the Philadelphia Union, led by a hat-trick from summer signing Thomas Muller.

Both games were played with the ‘Caps’ leading scorer Brian White sidelined with an injury, and Tuesday’s match against Forge saw USMNT defender Tristan Blackmon go down, but it doesn’t look to be long-term, with reports saying the club aims for Blackmon’s return for the playoffs.

In positive news for Kansas City, Joveljic is in position to make SKC history in his first season at the club. The Serbian forward is one goal away from tying, and two goals away from surpassing, Preki (18) for the second-most goals in a season for the club. He currently sits 5 goals below Dom Dwyer’s all-time single-season scoring record of 22.

Sporting look to finish the season on a positive note with the looming “overhaul” coming in the offseason once the club hires a CSO.

READ MORE: WHAT IS A CSO?

New CSO coming before end of season for @SportingKC. Club in final round of interviews.

CSO will come from outside organization.

CSO will hire manager.

CSO could make wholesale changes. Seventeen players out of contract. Two of three DP spots could be opened, all three U22.

— Andrew Wiebe (@andrew_wiebe) September 7, 2025