Save the dates and mark your calendars. The 2021 MLS regular season schedule is here.
Sporting Kansas City unveiled the club’s 34-game regular season slate today, giving supporters an enticing look at the upcoming campaign. And like any other season, several interesting nuggets emerge after absorbing the entire docket game by game.
But before we dive in, a useful note: Sporting Kansas City Season Ticket Members will have access to an exclusive pre-sale from March 26-30 for tickets to the club’s first four regular season home matches. Tickets to those four games will then go on sale to the general public via SeatGeek.com on Wednesday, March 31.
With ticket on-sale dates just around the corner and loads to be excited about in the weeks and months to come, here are the top 10 things to know about Sporting’s 2021 MLS regular season schedule.
1. Heavy in the West
Sporting will face their 12 fellow Western Conference opponents two or three times each for a total of 31 matches. The remaining three games will come against Eastern Conference foes—New York and Orlando in the first two weeks of the season and Chicago Fire FC on Sept. 11.
Sporting will meet Austin FC, Colorado Rapids, Houston Dynamo, FC Dallas, LAFC, Minnesota United FC and Seattle Sounders FC three times each. Two-game sets await with LA Galaxy, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
2. Seven on National TV
Seven nationally televised matches highlight Sporting’s schedule—three on FS1, three on ESPN and one on UniMas. FS1 will broadcast three fixtures from Children’s Mercy Park, including Sporting’s home opener against Orlando City SC on April 23, the club’s inaugural meeting with expansion side Austin FC on May 9 and a marquee battle with Seattle Sounders FC on Sept. 26.
Two of Sporting’s three ESPN fixtures come against Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field on Aug. 21 and Oct. 31, with the other slated for June 26 when LAFC visits Children’s Mercy Park. Sporting’s lone UniMas matchup is set for Sept. 3 when Manager Peter Vermes’ side makes a return trip to face LAFC at Banc of California Stadium.
3. Holiday Celebrations
Memorial Day weekend? Check. Fourth of July? Check. Labor Day weekend? Check. Halloween? Check. Sporting will take the field on each of these four holidays, hosting Houston on May 29, visiting the LA Galaxy on July 4, traveling to LAFC on Sept. 3 and heading to Minnesota on Oct. 31.
4. Rest and Recovery
Sporting’s 2021 schedule includes three notable breaks in the action. The MLS regular season will observe a three-week pause during the first half of June as major international tournaments—namely the Concacaf Nations League, UEFA Euro and Copa America—unfold across the globe. Sporting is also off on the second weekend of July as the Concacaf Gold Cup gets underway.
Later in the season, Sporting will have a bye on the weekend of Sept. 18-19, facilitating the club’s potential run to the Leagues Cup semifinals and finals on the weeks of Sept. 13 and 20, respectively. The team will also break during FIFA’s international window in October.
5. Backloaded Slate
The MLS regular season schedule is strategically backloaded: more matches later in the year mean more matches with large crowds as cities across the U.S. and Canada gradually open up and ease restrictions on public gatherings. Specifically, Sporting will play 12 matches through the first 12 weeks of the season before playing 22 over the final 17 weeks. That also means more midweek fixtures than normal, with Sporting scheduled to play nine Wednesday fixtures in 2021.
6. Summer Grind
From July 31 to Sept. 3, Sporting will play 10 consecutive opponents that reached the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs. The daunting stretch includes a pair of visits to Banc of California Stadium, where LAFC have posted a 29-4-12 regular season record since 2018 and averaged a whopping 2.4 goals per game.
7. Austin in Action
The new campaign will see Austin FC become Major League Soccer’s 27th club—a club that Sporting will become very familiar with over the course of 2021. Vermes’ side will host the Texas outfit on May 9 and July 17 before paying their inaugural visit to the new Austin FC Stadium on Nov. 3. Each matchup will serve as a notable reunion of sorts, as Austin is led by head coach and Sporting Legend Josh Wolff, assistant coach and former Kansas City great Davy Arnaud, and longtime Sporting captain and Kansas City legend Matt Besler in central defense.
8. Frequent Flyers
During a decisive home stretch of the season from Sept. 29 to Nov. 3, Sporting will play five of seven matches away from home. The challenging stretch begins with a trip to FC Dallas, which boasts a remarkable 60-9-28 regular season home record since 2015. Back-to-back Pacific Northwest matches follow against Vancouver and Seattle on Oct. 17 and 23, respectively, before Sporting embarks on a quick road swing from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 versus Minnesota and Austin.
9. Decision Day at Home
For the first time since 2018, Sporting will close out the MLS regular season in the friendly confines of Children’s Mercy Park. In one of six Western Conference clashes that will kick off concurrently at 5 p.m. CT, Sporting will host Real Salt Lake in what might be a pivotal matchup for playoff positioning. Vermes’ men notably beat RSL on Decision Day last November at Rio Tinto Stadium to clinch the top seed in the West.
10. Theme Nights
Sporting’s regular season home slate will feature the return of several exciting promotions and theme nights, including Retro Night, Sporting Salutes, Sporting Legends, Kick Childhood Cancer Night and more. More information about each theme night will be announced over the course of the year, with details subject to change.
- May 16 vs. Vancouver: Soccer For All
- May 29 vs. Houston: Sporting Sustainability
- July 31 vs. Dallas: Sporting Salutes
- Aug. 28 vs. Colorado: Retro Night
- Sept. 26 vs. Seattle: Kick Childhood Cancer
- Oct. 27 vs. LA Galaxy: Fan Appreciation
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