Sporting Kansas City will begin their campaign in the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a Round of 32 match against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks at Weidner Field on April 14. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. CT kickoff and will be available for streaming on Paramount+, with local radio coverage provided by Sports Radio 810 WHB.
The upcoming match marks a shift in focus for Sporting Kansas City, who have faced several disappointing results since their first win of the season against LA Galaxy on March 14. Most recently, they suffered a home defeat to San Jose Earthquakes, extending their winless streak at home to seven games.
Sporting Kansas City has enjoyed past success in the U.S. Open Cup, having won four championships—most recently in 2017—and reached the final as recently as 2024. The team enters this year’s tournament alongside fifteen other Major League Soccer teams and will face Colorado Springs for the first time.
Jacob Bartlett scored his first professional goal during Sporting’s recent loss to San Jose Earthquakes, becoming the youngest player from Kansas City to score for Sporting KC since Alenis Vargas did so in March 2024. Designated Players Manu Garcia and Dejan Joveljic combined to assist Bartlett’s goal; Joveljic now has multiple assists across all six of his MLS seasons.
Forward Capita Capemba made his debut appearance off the bench after joining from Radomiak Radom in Poland earlier this year. Capita played for thirty-three minutes and showed glimpses of his attacking ability but missed an opportunity to score after being set up by Justin Reynolds.