Sporting Kansas City and Charlotte FC meet this Wednesday at Children’s Mercy Park in a matchup that’s about a lot more than just three points. On one side, a team trying to reconnect with its fans and make sense of a season that’s slipped away. On the other, a squad spiraling, desperate to stop the slide before it turns into something worse. It’s their first official regular-season meeting in MLS, but there’s no shortage of pressure on either side to come out swinging.
After a full week off and with two straight home games lined up, Sporting returns to its own turf hoping to reset. Sitting 13th in the Western Conference with just 16 points, the team under interim coach Kerry Zavagnin is looking to rediscover whatever spark it showed earlier in the campaign. This isn’t just about salvaging a season, it’s about survival.
Charlotte, currently ninth in the East with 25 points, enters the third game of a tough five-match road trip. Both teams are under the gun, but for very different reasons. That’s what gives this midweek clash a sense of urgency that goes well beyond standings.
Charlotte fighting to hold its ground
Even with a playoff spot still in hand, Charlotte FC is wobbling. Dean Smith’s squad has won only two of its last nine matches and dropped seven. His win percentage has dipped below 39% across 59 games in charge. It’s the kind of stretch that puts a coach under a microscope, especially with the club trending in the wrong direction.
There’s no shortage of attacking talent. Wilfried Zaha, a veteran of the Premier League, has five goals and three assists. Liel Abada, the Israeli forward, has also netted five times. Pep Biel has become the creative core, with seven assists and five goals, while Patrick Agyemang leads the team in scoring with six. On paper, it’s a loaded frontline. But the defense? That’s where it gets messy. No team in MLS has allowed more shots on target in 2025.
Sporting KC leaking goals and lacking firepower
That shaky Charlotte backline might offer a lifeline to one of the league’s least threatening attacks. Sporting Kansas City ranks last in MLS in shots on goal per game, averaging just 3.5. Even with Dejan Joveljić putting up 10 goals and 2 assists, and Daniel Salloi contributing five goals and four assists, there’s been a consistent struggle to create clear chances.
Defensively, things aren’t any better. Sporting has allowed 35 goals in 18 matches. In just the last two games, against LAFC and FC Dallas, they conceded seven. The team is also dealing with multiple absences. Khiry Shelton is suspended, Dany Rosero and Robert Voloder are both out injured, Zorhan Bassong is away on international duty, and Nemanja Radoja remains sidelined. That’s a long list for a team already walking a thin line.