Sporting KC
Sporting KC’s California Preseason is Open to the Public
Finally, Sporting Kansas City preseason has returned to being in front of a live crowd. At least for the California portion.
For the first time in a post-pandemic era, Sporting Kansas City will play preseason games in front of live crowds. For the second leg of preseason, Sporting KC will play in the Coachella Valley Invitational in Indio, California. They will be joined by 13 other Major League Soccer teams, as well as six NWSL clubs (not including the KC Current).
There is no word yet on the first leg of preseason in South Florida in terms of games, opponents or if they’ll be open to the public.
The Schedule
Sporting KC will be on the second leg of their preseason after a brief return to Kansas City. They’ll head to California from February 2nd through the 15th, before they return home for their first CONCACAF Champions Cup (CCC) game of the year against Inter Miami.
While in Cali, they will play two preseason games. One is against a familiar foe in Austin FC and the other is against one of the four Eastern Conference teams making the journey — New York City FC.
- SKC vs. NYCFC – Wednesday, Feb. 5th at 3:00 PM PST (5:00 PM CST)
- SKC vs. Minnesota United – Sunday, Feb. 9th at 11:30 AM PST (1:30 PM CST)
[Update 1/3/2025: SKC were previously playing Austin on Saturday, but had their game moved to Sunday. It’s since been updated on the CVI site and the SportingKC.com article.]
A Return to the Public
Sporting KC previously would spend most of their preseasons in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona and play in the Desert Diamond Cup (among other names of the competition). The games open to the public were held at FC Tuscon’s stadium or Phoenix Rising FC’s stadium and were an enjoyable chance to see some preseason soccer and have a vacation to a warm climate in the cold Missouri winters. Since the pandemic, the games have essentially been held behind closed doors.
Tickets for the competition go on sale Wednesday. Passes will be for all the games on a given day and include parking.
There is no word as of now if these games will be streamed. There were some streams in 2024.
Full 2025 Coachella Valley Invitational Schedule (via SportingKC.com)
MLS DAY 1:Â Wednesday, Feb. 5
St. Louis CITY SC vs. Portland Timbers at 10:00 a.m. PT
LA Galaxy vs. Austin FC at 11:00 a.m. PT
Real Salt Lake vs. San Jose Earthquakes at 12:30 p.m. PT
Chicago Fire FC vs. LAFC at 1:30 p.m. PT
New York City FC vs. Sporting Kansas City at 3:00 p.m. PT
MLS DAY 2:Â Saturday, Feb. 8
Austin FC vs. Sporting Kansas City at 11:00 a.m. PT
San Diego FC vs. New York City FC at 12:00 p.m. PT
San Jose Earthquakes vs. New York Red Bulls at 1:30 p.m. PT
Portland Timbers vs. Chicago Fire FC at 2:30 p.m. PT
MLS DAY 3:Â Sunday, Feb. 9
LA Galaxy vs. Charlotte FC at 10:00 a.m. PT
Minnesota United FC vs. St. Louis CITY SC at 11:30 a.m. PT
MLS DAY 4:Â Wednesday, Feb. 12
Chicago Fire FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes at 10:00 a.m. PT
LA Galaxy vs. Minnesota United FC at 11:00 a.m. PT
New York Red Bulls vs. Real Salt Lake at 12:30 p.m. PT
Portland Timbers vs. San Diego FC at 1:30 p.m. PT
New York City FC vs. St. Louis CITY SC at 3:00 p.m. PT
MLS DAY 5:Â Saturday, Feb. 15
San Diego FC vs. New York Red Bulls at 10:00 a.m. PT
Charlotte FC vs. Portland Timbers at 10:00 a.m. PT
LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire FC at 12:00 p.m. PT
Minnesota United FC vs. New York City FC at 2:00 p.m. PT
NWSL DAY 1:Â Sunday, Feb. 16
Angel City FC vs. Portland Thorns FC at 11:00 a.m. PT
San Diego Wave FC vs. Houston Dash at 12:00 p.m. PT
Seattle Reign FC vs. Bay FC at 1:00 p.m. PT
NWSL DAY 2:Â Saturday, Feb. 22
Portland Thorns FC vs. Houston Dash at 10:00 a.m. PT
San Diego Wave FC vs. Bay FC at 11:00 a.m. PT
Angel City FC vs. Seattle Reign FC at 12:00 p.m. PT
The MLS Teams
Credit: Coachella Valley Invitational
10 teams from the now 15 team Western Conference, including 2025 expansion side San Diego FC will participate in the Coachella Valley Invitational alongside four Eastern Conference teams.
WEST:Â Austin FC, LA Galaxy, LAFC, Minnesota United, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, San Diego FC, St. Louis City, San Jose Earthquakes and Sporting KC
EAST: Charlotte FC, Chicago Fire, New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls
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