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- What will the rest of the season look like for Sporting Kansas City?
Sporting Kansas City is still rebuilding their roster. Following a decade of excellence under head coach Peter Vermes, it is almost eerie to see SKC struggling as they have been for the past couple seasons. Since the dismissal of Vermes in the 2025 season, they have lacked an identity. Now, they have an ownership group that is willing to spend big to try to get SKC back to the powerhouse that they once were. Currently, Sporting sit rock bottom of the Western Conference and indeed the entire league. Their 15 points in 23 games have them at 6 points behind the next worse team, CF Montreal, and they look to be in prime position to grab the wooden spoon.
So, while the playoffs might be out of reach for the club this season, they still have a lot to play for. One of the biggest headlines for the rest of the season for this Sporting Kansas City side will center on André Luiz. The Brazilian winger arrives as the club-record fee of $18 million plus add-ons. With a fee that big, it is obvious that SKC view this player as a dynamic piece of the attack for years to come. For the rest of this season, it will be important to get him acclimated with the team, and the conditions of the MLS, while also making sure that he stays healthy. Finding out what makes André Luiz click will be important as Sporting continue their roster rebuild heading into the 2027 Sprint Season.
There are some players who are starting to form the core of this side: U22 acquisition Owen Wolff, signed from Austin for $7 million this, should be a part of that in midfield, as well as some of the new defenders who have joined the team in the transfer window. However, for the rest of the roster, the remainder of the season will be crucial for them to prove that they belong on the team for next season, whether this means as a starter or one of the first names off the bench. Angolan winger Capita, who has been recorded as the fastest player in the MLS this season, showed very well for himself last Saturday against FC Dallas. Strikers Taylor Calheira and Seymour Reid both have plenty of potential and should be given playing time for the rest of the season. Both are very promising attacking players that could feature as strong bench options next season for SKC if the club swings big for a new DP 9. This weekend, they face off against a stingy LAFC side at Sporting Park in a test that could prove which players are ready to take a key role for Sporting Kansas City in the coming years.
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The performance from Sporting Kansas City this weekend against LAFC was a statement to the rest of the league. Yes, LAFC has struggled at times this season, but it was a huge improvement from the reverse fixture in BMO Stadium in which LAFC won 4-0. SKC played very well in the first half and took a 2-0 lead into the break. Within five minutes of the second half, Bouanga got a goal back for LAFC, and Kansas City fans may have been thinking "here we go again". Instead, SKC remained resolute, largely thanks to goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland. After withstanding some pressure from the visitors, SKC got a third goal, effectively ending the game. Their response in the second half is critical for a team that is trying to build a winning mentality. For a rebuilding side like Sporting, they aren't going to be perfect in every match. However, getting through the tough stretches of games and then taking control is going to be essential if they look to remind the league of the team that they were in the 2010's.
Individually, the Sporting Kansas City players had a lot of fight. This energy is going to be very important for the players to sustain as they look to give the fans a level of optimism going into the 2027 sprint season. André Luiz looked amazing, proving that the steep price tag might be justified. He notched his first goal in the MLS, and it was an absolute beauty. After receving the ball just inside the box, he faked a shot, sending Igor Jesus flying in the other direction, before cutting onto his right foot and firing a bar-down rocket to open the scoring. Moisés Mosquera, the Colombian central defender signed from Juarez, had his best game for Kansas City. His speed and physicality were both key in defending Son and Bouanga throughout the night. Taylor Calheira scored another goal as he looks to play himself into a role next season. Kwaku Agyabeng, the Ghanaian midfeilder who was drafted fourth overall by SKC in the Super Draft, looked confident in midfield. Going into the second year of the Raphaël Wicky tenure, performances like these will have fans feeling optimistic that they can return to the Western Conference giant that they once were.
2. How can RSL get back to winning ways?
2. How can RSL get back to winning ways?
Real Salt Lake haven't won an MLS match since May. Their loss in Houston made it 10 straight games in the league, during which they've been outscored 12-19. Their most pressing concern is their defense. They haven't kept a clean sheet during this slump. Their inability to replace captain Justen Glad, who hasn't featured since the World Cup break, has continued this season. Adding Candian center back Luc de Fougerolles on loan will help. The 20 year old defender impressed at the World Cup with his calmness and soccer IQ and looks like a great fit for RSL's system. But, until he is integrated into the first team, Pablo Mastroeni must seek other solutions.
Zavier Gozo's transfer to Crystal Palace left a vacancy that the Claret and Cobalt are still trying to fill. Utah native Zach Booth looked like he was going to claim this role for his own during RSL's strong Leagues Cup campaign, but then he suffered a hamstring injury. Since then, Mastroeni has tried Dominik Marczuk, Saba Lobjanidze, Alexandros Katranis, and DeAndre Yedlin at right wingback. Out of this group, Yedlin provides the most defensive solidity. He may be less dynamic, but RSL needs his defensive profile and experience to improve their off-ball structure.
Salt Lake needs to be more threatening in attack. Before the World Cup, RSL was scoring at will. At the moment, Sergi Solans is the only goal dangerous player on the team. Getting Luna more involved higher up the field will be key. He has 5 goals and 5 assists in 2026 so far, which is too low for a player of his quality. It's clear they can't replace Gozo's productivity down the right, so it makes sense to adjust their tactics from targeting the wide areas to building through central zones. This would get the ball to Luna's feet more often and make RSL a more dangerous team. The Claret and Cobalt return to America First Field on Saturday to take on a struggling New York City FC. If RSL can defend well and play through Luna, they have a great chance to pick up three points.
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Saturday's 0-2 home loss to New York City provided more questions than answers for this struggling RSL side. What unquestionably needs to be addressed is their defensive shape. There is far too much space between lines. When the forwards and central midfielders pressed high, the defenders stayed back, leaving a massive gap. It doesn't matter who plays in the back line if they are so open against the ball. Salt Lake must either commit to stepping up their lines, or drop back and counter into the space. Keeping their shape compact will make them much harder to play through and will go a long way towards returning to the win column.
On the other side of the ball, RSL lacked ideas. Diego Luna missed the match with a knee injury, and his playmaking was sorely missed. The Claret and Cobalt also missed any sort of threat down the right side. Alex Katranis started at right wingback. His natural tendency is to cut onto his dominant left foot when he gets the ball. With Guilavogui drifting inside to find the half spaces and combine with teammates, it's the wingback's job to claim the open space by the touch line. Katranis did not. As a result, the home side was one-dimensional, building almost exclusively down their left side. Real Salt Lake is a team that looks to utilize wide areas in the attack in order to find space in the middle. So, finding a solution at right wingback will help not just Guilavogui, but the entire RSL attack.
3. Manu Duah vs Neil Pierre: which star defender will shine brighter?
3. Manu Duah vs Neil Pierre: which star defender will shine brighter?
San Diego FC host Philadelphia Union on Sunday in a matchup of the 2025 conference winners. Both underperformed to start 2026, but have looked better since league play resumed. A lot of this improvement for both teams comes down to the play of their dynamic young center backs. For San Diego, it's Manu Duah. The 21 year old Ghanaian broke out last year after converting from defensive midfield to center back. For Philadelphia, it's Neil Pierre. The 18 year old American has emerged this summer since returning from his loan to Lyngby in Denmark. Both are extremely athletic defenders who have immense potential. Which one will steal the show when they face each other this Sunday?
Manu Duah's ability to defend in open space is borderline unmatched in MLS. He is so good at anticipating plays and breaking up counter attacks, which is critical for a San Diego side which plays with a high line. They commit lots of numbers forward, and when they lose the ball up the field, they keep those numbers high to counter press. This leaves lots of space behind, and they've relied on Duah's excellence to bail them out when their press is broken. Facing a very direct Union team, Duah will have to be at his best to limit their effectiveness in transition.
Neil Pierre loves to defend on the front foot. It's why he's a perfect fit for the Philadelphia Union. His aggression and ability to make interceptions has increased the ferocity of the Union's press. He's a big reason why the Union's defense is so much better in the second half of the season. Pierre, standing at 6' 5'', is dominant in the air. Another part of Philadelphia's recipe to success is their threat on set pieces, especially with Wagner's return to the City of Brotherly Love. Pierre has been unstoppable off dead balls, scoring four times in just nine matches. Facing a team in San Diego that loves to possess, Philadelphia's press will have to be spot on, and Pierre is going to need to make some big plays.
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It was all Neil Pierre and Philaldelphia Union on Sunday Night. The visitors flashed their postseason credentials with an emphatic 5-0 victory. After a back and forth first half, Philadelphia took control of the game in the second half with their relentless pressure. The Union are so good at making the game difficult for their opponents by keeping their lines high and maintaining heavy pressure from the forwards and midfielders. San Diego is committed to building out of the back, and they do so through Manu Duah, who has the most touches and passes completed in the league. As Philadelphia grew into the game, San Diego struggled to break through their press. A lot of this comes down to the Union's back line. Having a strong back line is essential for their system, and Pierre is a perfect fit for this brand of soccer. He showcased this against San Diego with well-timed steps to pin San Diego in and his impressive recovery defending. With their latest shutout, it's now been 329 minutes since the Union allowed a goal. Neil Pierre and the Philadelphia defense have powered this unlikely revival that has Union fans dreaming of a top 4 finish.
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