Sporting KC vs. Earthquakes: 2026 Season Opener Preview & Roster Changes

Sporting Kansas City embarks on its 31st Major League Soccer season this Saturday, facing the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park. The match, set for a 9:30 p.m. CT kickoff, will be streamed on Apple TV and broadcast locally on Sports Radio 810 WHB.

A New Era Begins for Sporting KC

This season marks a significant turning point for Sporting Kansas City, following a disappointing 2025 campaign. The club underwent substantial changes with the arrival of new President of Soccer Operations & GM David Lee and head coach Raphael Wicky, resulting in the departure of 13 players.

Historical Success in Season Openers

Despite recent challenges, Sporting KC boasts a strong record in season openers, leading MLS with 15 all-time Week 1 victories. However, their performance over the last decade has been more mixed, with a 3-5-2 record.

Did You Know? Sporting Kansas City has secured 15 season-opening wins, the most in Major League Soccer history.

Significant Roster Changes

The overhaul of the roster includes the addition of ten new players, aiming to inject fresh talent and improve the team’s performance. Nine of these newcomers could potentially make their debuts this weekend, with only Lasse Berg Johnsen awaiting his P1 visa.

Recent Encounters with the Earthquakes

Sporting KC’s recent matches against San Jose have been high-scoring affairs. In April 2025, they secured a 5-3 victory in the Bay Area, while a March 2025 home game resulted in a 2-1 defeat.

Historically, Sporting KC holds the advantage in the regular-season series, leading 33-27-10 though their record on the road against San Jose is 9-17-8.

Leadership and Coaching Shifts

The appointment of David Lee and Raphael Wicky signals a new direction for the club. Lee brings experience from a successful tenure at NYCFC (2016-2025), while Wicky arrives with a strong track record from BSC Young Boys, where he led the team to a Super League and Cup double in Switzerland.

Expert Insight: The arrival of both Lee and Wicky represents a deliberate effort to revitalize Sporting Kansas City, bringing in experienced leadership and a proven coaching philosophy to address the shortcomings of the previous season.

Key Players to Watch

Designated Players Manu Garcia and Dejan Joveljic are poised to play key roles in the upcoming season. Joveljic, in particular, enjoyed a standout first season with the club, finishing fifth in the Golden Boot rankings with 18 goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sporting KC’s overall record against the San Jose Earthquakes?

Sporting KC leads the all-time regular-season series 33-27-10.

How many players have departed Sporting KC this offseason?

To date, 13 players have departed the club.

Who are the new coaches joining Sporting KC?

Raphael Wicky is the new head coach, and his revamped coaching staff includes Edu Rubio and Dominic Kinnear as assistant coaches, with Roger Espinoza and Ash Wallace returning as assistants and Darrin MacLeod promoted as goalkeeper coach.

As Sporting Kansas City enters this new chapter, the team’s performance this season will likely hinge on how effectively the new players integrate and how well the coaching staff can build a cohesive unit.