KC Reporter

Sporting Kansas City will close out its 2025 Major League Soccer season on Saturday with a home match against Houston Dynamo FC at Children’s Mercy Park. The game, which kicks off at 8:15 p.m. CT, marks the season finale for both teams and will be played as part of Fan Appreciation Night.

Tickets for the match are available without fees on SeatGeek. Fans attending the event can receive a team poster at the gates while supplies last, take advantage of 50% discounts on adidas gear and scarves at SportingStyle stores, enjoy free popcorn on the Mazuma Plaza before the game, and find reduced prices on select menu items at stadium concessions.

The fixture is notable as Sporting Kansas City has faced Houston more than any other opponent since 2011, with 49 meetings across all competitions. The two clubs have also met in six editions of the MLS Cup Playoffs, most recently in the 2023 Western Conference Semifinals. However, both teams are set to miss this year’s postseason following underwhelming campaigns.

Sporting KC has earned points in eight of its last nine league games against Houston (5 wins, 1 loss, 3 draws) and is aiming to sweep the season series for just the second time in two decades. In their previous encounter this season, Sporting secured a 3-1 comeback victory at Shell Energy Stadium, taking a narrow lead in the all-time regular season series (15 wins, 14 losses, 16 draws). Dejan Joveljic scored twice during that match while goalkeeper John Pulskamp recorded a personal best of eight saves.

Joveljic was recently named Sporting’s MVP and Offensive Player of the Year after scoring 18 goals this season—tied for fourth most in MLS and second most for a single regular season in club history. Eleven of those goals came at home, leaving him one short of Dom Dwyer’s record for most home goals at Children’s Mercy Park during a single regular season (set in 2014).

Pulskamp was recognized as SKC’s Defensive Player of the Year and ranks third among MLS goalkeepers with 114 saves this year—fourth highest for any Kansas City goalkeeper over a regular season. He is also the only SKC player to start every game this year and could become only the fifth player in club history to play every minute across a full 34-game regular season.

Houston Dynamo FC is managed by Ben Olsen, who previously played alongside Sporting’s interim head coach Kerry Zavagnin on the U.S. Men’s National Team. Houston’s coaching staff also includes former SKC players Aurelien Collin and Josh Wolff as assistants. The Dynamo will be missing four players due to injuries or illness, including midfielder Jack McGlynn (eight assists, seven goals), goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell, and defenders Daniel Steres and Franco Escobar.

Houston has collected points from ten of its sixteen away matches this year (four wins, six losses, six draws). Argentine striker Ezequiel Ponce leads their scoring with twelve goals across all competitions; he also leads MLS in fouls committed.

The match will be officiated by Nabil Bensalah, who made his debut as an MLS referee last month. Fans can watch live coverage via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (English commentary from Neil Sika and Lloyd Sam; Spanish commentary from Erasmo Provenza and Ivan Kasanzew) or listen locally on radio stations 103.7 FM or 810 AM (with Blake Aerni and Jon Kempin). Local pubs affiliated with Sporting’s Pub Network will show the game live, including No Other Pub in downtown Kansas City where fans wearing SKC gear can access special offers starting at 6 p.m.

"FAN APPRECIATION STARTS NOW! Score 50% OFF all Adidas gear + both jerseys during Fan Appreciation Week! Order online at https://t.co/kxQU2jksCz for easy pickup!" — SportingStyle (@SportingStyle) October 13, 2025

"The devil closes the deal Azulito is October’s Pin of the Month and the final piece of the set. Complete your full set at https://t.co/kxQU2jksCzpic.twitter.com/qn3vyfhvSn" — SportingStyle (@SportingStyle) October 1, 2025