KC Reporter

Sporting Kansas City will play Orlando City at Inter & Co Stadium on Saturday, marking the club’s first visit to Orlando in six years. The match is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT and will be available via MLS Season Pass and Sports Radio 810 WHB.

The team continues a demanding run of matches, having recently faced San Diego FC at Children’s Mercy Park and losing 2-0. Sporting has played nine consecutive games against teams above the playoff line, including recent fixtures against Vancouver, San Diego, and upcoming matches with Orlando and Seattle.

Despite the loss to San Diego, Sporting outperformed their opponents in expected goals with a margin of 2.69 to 0.97, which was their highest of the season so far. Interim head coach Kerry Zavagnin has collected 23 points since taking over in March, but the team remains eight points behind the final postseason spot with a record of 6-8-5.

This weekend’s game is Sporting’s first in Orlando since August 14, 2019, when they lost 1-0 after an early goal from Tesho Akindele. Since then, Sporting has hosted Orlando three times at Children’s Mercy Park, most recently winning last year on August 24 with goals from Jake Davis, Daniel Salloi, and Remi Walter despite playing with ten men after William Agada received a red card.

The all-time series between Sporting and Orlando stands even at three wins each and two draws. However, Sporting has not won any of its last three away games in Florida against Orlando.

Jake Davis returned to Sporting's starting lineup during last weekend's loss to San Diego FC. Davis partnered Zorhan Bassong in midfield as the team used a 4-4-2 formation for the first time under Zavagnin. Davis had previously been named team MVP in 2024 but has struggled with injuries this season while playing both right back and central midfield roles.

Alan Montes made his debut for Sporting Kansas City during the closing minutes of last weekend’s match against San Diego FC. Montes joined on loan from Club Necaxa earlier this month for the remainder of the season with an option for a permanent transfer at year-end. He brings experience from LIGA MX clubs Necaxa and Monterrey.

In other news within the organization, Ike Opara was appointed interim head coach of Sporting Kansas City II following Istvan Urbanyi's departure after leading SKC II through their first twenty matches this season. Opara will work alongside goalkeeper coach Darrin MacLeod as SKC II continues its MLS NEXT Pro campaign.