2021 Sporting Kansas City season

Sporting Kansas City
2021 season
Owner	Sporting Club
Head coach	Peter Vermes
Stadium	Children's Mercy Park
MLS	Conference: 3rd ; Overall: 4th
Playoffs	Conference Semifinals
U.S. Open Cup	Canceled
Leagues Cup	Quarter-finals
Highest home attendance	League/All:; 20,213 (6/26 v. LAFC)
Lowest home attendance	League/All:; 16,888 (9/15 v. MIN)
Average home league attendance	League/All: 18,837
Biggest win	SKC 4–0 MIN (9/15)
Biggest defeat	All:; SKC 1–6 LEÓN (8/10, LC QF); League:; LAFC 4–0 SKC (9/3)
Home colors	Away colors
	← 2020 2022 →

The 2021 Sporting Kansas City season was the twenty-sixth season of the team's existence in Major League Soccer and the eleventh year played under the Sporting Kansas City moniker. The season began on April 17.^[1]

Summary

Preseason

Sporting KC players reported for a seven day quarantine period involving medical exams and testing on March 1. The team then trained for six weeks beginning on March 8 before the season started on April 17.^[2] Sporting KC began a one week voluntary training on March 1 before heading to Arizona on March 7. The team then began preseason training and played 4 preseason matches on March 13, March 20, March 24 and April 3 before returning to Kansas City on April 3.^[3]

Roster

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Squad correct as of October 29, 2021.


No.	Pos.	Player	Nation
1	GK	John Pulskamp	United States
2	DF	Jaylin Lindsey (HGP)	United States
3	DF	Andreu Fontas	Spain
4	DF	Roberto Punčec	Croatia
5	DF	Nicolas Isimat-Mirin	France^[4]
6	MF	Ilie Sánchez	Spain
7	FW	Johnny Russell (DP)	Scotland
8	DF	Graham Zusi	United States
9	FW	Alan Pulido (DP)	Mexico
11	FW	Khiry Shelton	United States
13	DF	Amadou Dia	United States
15	MF	Roger Espinoza	Honduras
16	DF	Graham Smith	United States
17	MF	Gadi Kinda	Israel
19	MF	Grayson Barber (HGP)	United States
20	FW	Dániel Sallói (HGP)	Hungary
21	MF	Felipe Hernandez (HGP)	Colombia
22	GK	Kendall McIntosh	United States
23	FW	Tyler Freeman (HGP)	United States
25	FW	Ozzie Cisneros (HGP)	United States
28	DF	Cameron Duke (HGP)	United States
29	GK	Tim Melia	United States
31	GK	Brooks Thompson (HGP)	United States
32	MF	Jose Mauri	Italy
36	DF	Luís Martins	Portugal
54	MF	Remi Walter	France
96	FW	Wilson Harris (HGP)	United States

Player movement

In

Per Major League Soccer and club policies terms of the deals do not get disclosed.

Date	Player	Position	Previous club	Fee/notes	Ref
October 21, 2020	Wilson Harris	FW	Sporting Kansas City II	Homegrown Signing	^[5]
December 17, 2020	Kendall McIntosh	GK	New York Red Bulls	2020 MLS Re-Entry Process Signing	^[6]
December 22, 2020	Remi Walter	MF	Yeni Malatyaspor	International Signing	^[7]
January 20, 2021	Grayson Barber	MF	Sporting Kansas City Academy	Homegrown Academy Signing	^[8]
January 20, 2021	Ozzie Cisneros	FW	Sporting Kansas City Academy	Homegrown Academy Signing	^[8]
January 20, 2021	Brooks Thompson	GK	Sporting Kansas City Academy	Homegrown Academy Signing	^[8]
February 3, 2021	Nicolas Isimat-Mirin	DF	Beşiktaş J.K.	International Signing	^[4]

Draft picks

Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. Only trades involving draft picks and executed after the start of 2020 MLS SuperDraft will be listed in the notes.

Round	Pick Number	Player	Position	School
2	23	Matt Constant	DF	University of North Carolina
3	23	Jamil Roberts	FW	Marshall University

Out

Date	Player	Position	Destination club	Notes	Ref

Competitions

Preseason

Kickoff times are in CDT (UTC-05) unless shown otherwise

Preseason schedule announced on March 1, 2021.^[3]

March 13, 2021	Sporting Kansas City	4–0	Phoenix Rising FC	Chandler, Arizona
12:00 pm CST	Harris 9', 19'. 33' Busio 29'	Report		Stadium: Wild Horse Pass Stadium

March 20, 2021	Sporting Kansas City	0–1	Colorado Rapids	Tucson, Arizona
5:00 pm CDT		Report	Moor 75'	Stadium: Kino Sports Complex

March 24, 2021	Sporting Kansas City	3–3	Portland Timbers	Tucson, Arizona
1:00 pm CDT	Shelton 44' Harris 48' Espinoza 64'	Report	Valeri 52' Asprilla 66' Tuiloma 88'	Stadium: Kino Sports Complex

April 3, 2021	Sporting Kansas City	1–0	LA Galaxy	Tucson, Arizona
2:00 pm CDT	Busio 33'	Report		Stadium: Kino Sports Complex

MLS

Standings

Western Conference

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Colorado Rapids	34	17	7	10	51	35	+16	61	Qualification for the Playoffs Conference semifinals and CONCACAF Champions League
2	Seattle Sounders FC	34	17	8	9	53	33	+20	60	Qualification for the Playoffs first round and CONCACAF Champions League
3	Sporting Kansas City	34	17	10	7	58	40	+18	58	Qualification for the Playoffs first round
4	Portland Timbers	34	17	13	4	56	52	+4	55
5	Minnesota United FC	34	13	11	10	42	44	−2	49

Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)

Overall table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
2	Colorado Rapids	34	17	7	10	51	35	+16	61	Qualification for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League^[a]
3	Seattle Sounders FC	34	17	8	9	53	33	+20	60	Qualification for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League^[b]
4	Sporting Kansas City	34	17	10	7	58	40	+18	58
5	Portland Timbers	34	17	13	4	56	52	+4	55
6	Philadelphia Union	34	14	8	12	48	35	+13	54

Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Notes:

^ As 2021 MLS Western Conference regular season champions (USA3)
^ As highest-ranked U.S. based Division I club (based on 2021 MLS regular season record) not already qualified (USA4)^[9]

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34
Stadium	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	A	H
Result	W	D	L	W	L	W	W	W	D	L	W	W	W	D	W	L	W	D	W	D	D	D	L	W	W	L	W	W	L	W	W	L	L	L

Source: [1]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Match Results

April 17, 2021 1	New York Red Bulls	1–2	Sporting Kansas City	Harrison, New Jersey
7:00 pm CDT	Diarra 41' Clark 48'	Report	Isimat-Mirin 9' Kinda 59' (pen.) Sallói 60'	Stadium: Red Bull Arena Referee: Robert Sibiga

April 23, 2021 2	Sporting Kansas City	1–1	Orlando City SC	Kansas City, Kansas
6:30 pm CDT	Busio 45' Punčec 86'	Report	Smith 12' Méndez 61' Nani 79'	Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 20,086 Referee: Joe Dickerson

May 1, 2021 3	Real Salt Lake	3–1	Sporting Kansas City	Sandy, Utah
1:00 pm CDT	Ruiz 32' Kreilach 35' Rubin 52', 77' Chang 77'	Report	Pulido 17'	Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium Referee: David Gantar

May 9, 2021 4	Sporting Kansas City	2–1	Austin FC	Kansas City, Kansas
6:30 pm CDT	Sánchez 56' Martins 59' Sánchez 82' Kinda 90'	Report	Gallagher 7' Romaña 42' Ring 45' 67' Pereira 87'	Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Referee: Joe Dickerson

May 12, 2021 5	Houston Dynamo FC	1–0	Sporting Kansas City	Houston, Texas
7:30 pm CDT	Urruti 56' Picault 90 +6'	Report	Espinoza 70'	Stadium: BBVA Stadium

May 16, 2021 6	Sporting Kansas City	3–0	Vancouver Whitecaps FC	Kansas City, Kansas
1:00 pm CDT	Sánchez 9' Sallói 28' Pulido 32', 58' Kinda 36' Espinoza 72'	Report	Cornelius 55'	Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Referee: Alan Kelly

May 22, 2021 7	San Jose Earthquakes	1–3	Sporting Kansas City	San Jose, California
1:00 pm CDT	López 4' Espinoza 9' Ríos 49'	Report	Lindsey 15', 90' Pulido 60' Sallói 75'	Stadium: PayPal Park Referee: Allen Chapman

May 29, 2021 8	Sporting Kansas City	3–2	Houston Dynamo FC	Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 pm CDT	Busio 51' Pulido 61' Kinda 65' Zusi 90+1'	Report	Jones 4' Vera 13', 42' García 82' Urruti 90+3'	Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 20,086 Referee: Drew Fischer

June 12, 2021 9	Sporting Kansas City	1–1	Austin FC	Kansas City, Kansas
2:30 pm CDT	Walter 32' Salloi 71'	Report	Dominguez 26' Besler 79' Lima 90'	Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 18,519 Referee: Robert Sibiga

June 19, 2021 10	Portland Timbers	2–1	Sporting Kansas City	Portland, Oregon
9:30 pm CDT	Asprilla 36' Župarić 38' Loría 45+1' Zambrano 87'	Report	Lindsey 28' Fontàs 69' Espinoza 74' Ilie 83'	Stadium: Providence Park Referee: Alan Kelly

June 23, 2021 11	Sporting Kansas City	3–1	Colorado Rapids	Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 pm CDT	Sallói 14', 38' Hernández 64'	Report	Rosenberry 84'	Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 18,690 Referee: David Gantar

June 26, 2021 12	Sporting Kansas City	2–1	Los Angeles FC	Kansas City, Kansas
4:00 pm CDT	Ilie 44' Pulido 61' Sallói 87'	Report	Blackmon 12' 58' Moon-hwan 24' Romero 64'	Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 20,213 Referee: Chris Penso

July 4, 2021 13	LA Galaxy	0–2	Sporting Kansas City	Carson, California
9:30 pm CDT	Villafaña 45+3'	Report	Sallói 32' Russell 81' Shelton 90+5'	Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park Attendance: 23,556 Referee: Alex Chilowicz

July 21, 2021 14	Sporting Kansas City	1–1	San Jose Earthquakes	Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 pm CDT	Lindsey 57' Zusi 86' Sallói 90 +4'	Report	López 40' Tavares 49' 90 +5' Espinoza 81' Cardoso 53' 86'	Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 17,872 Referee: Joseph Dickerson

July 25, 2021 15	Seattle Sounders FC	1–3	Sporting Kansas City	Seattle, Washington
8:00 pm CDT	Leyva 29' Montero 51' Paulo 84'	Report	Russell 31' Sallói 42' Duke 72' Zusi 80'	Stadium: Lumen Field Attendance: 32,790 Referee: Ramy Touchan

July 31, 2021 16	Sporting Kansas City	1–2	FC Dallas	Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 pm CDT	Sallói 68' Russell 85'	Report	Pomykal 3' Ferreira 51' Twumasi 73' Bressan 80' Jara 84' Hedges 90+1'	Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 19,975 Referee: Alex Chilowicz

August 4, 2021 17	Los Angeles FC	1–4	Sporting Kansas City	Los Angeles, California
9:30 pm CDT	Romero 20' Cifuentes 33' Ginella 62' Musovski 82' Duke 85' Atuesta 90+7'	Report	Pulido 20' Isimat-Mirin 25' Martins 28' Sallói 36' Zusi 41' Sánchez 57' Kinda 58' Fontàs 90+2' Espinoza 90+6'	Stadium: Banc of California Stadium Attendance: 22,114 Referee: Alan Kelly

August 7, 2021 18	Colorado Rapids	0–0	Sporting Kansas City	Commerce City, Colorado
8:00 pm CDT	Warner 28' Beitashour 63'	Report	Punčec 10' Lindsey 81'	Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park Attendance: 11,753 Referee: Ted Unkel

August 14, 2021 19	FC Dallas	0–2	Sporting Kansas City	Frisco, Texas
7:30 pm CDT	Ferreira 38' Hedges 49' Obrian 67' Schön 68' Vargas 76' Twumasi 89'	Report	Pulido 12' Sallói 63' Kinda 90+1'	Stadium: Toyota Stadium Attendance: 14,133 Referee: Armando Villarreal

August 18, 2021 20	Sporting Kansas City	1–1	Portland Timbers	Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 pm CDT	Sallói 25', 90+1' Pulido 62'	Report	Mora 17' Chará 28' Van Rankin 43' Bonilla 77' Valeri 84'	Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 17,081 Referee: Ismail Elfath

August 21, 2021 21	Minnesota United FC	0–0	Sporting Kansas City	Saint Paul, Minnesota
2:30 pm CDT	Dibassy 6' Métanire 59'	Report	Walter 21' Russell 25' Zusi 69' Sallói 86' Espinoza 90+1'	Stadium: Allianz Field Referee: Marcos de Oliveira

August 28, 2021 22	Sporting Kansas City	1–1	Colorado Rapids	Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 pm CDT	Russell 41'	Report	Lewis 16', 30' Abubakar 24' Trusty 69' Rosenberry 72'	Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 19,883 Referee: Fotis Bazakos

September 3, 2021 22	Los Angeles FC	4–0	Sporting Kansas City	Los Angeles
7:00 PM PT	Fall 18', 61' Ibeagha 41' Arango 71' Duke 77' Musovski 79' Atuesta 87' (pen.)	Report	Espinoza 58' Melia 85'	Stadium: Banc of California Stadium Attendance: 22,018 Referee: Drew Fischer

September 11, 2021 24	Sporting Kansas City	2–0	Chicago Fire FC	Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 pm CDT	José Mauri 4' Russel 6'	Report	Stojanović 32' F. Navarro 53' M. Navarro 68'	Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 18,467 Referee: Jon Freemon

September 15, 2021 25	Sporting Kansas City	4–0	Minnesota United FC	Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 pm CDT	Shelton 14' Sallói 36' Russell 45' (pen.) Duke 52'	Report	Fragapane 50'	Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 16,888 Referee: Robert Sibiga

September 26, 2021 26	Sporting Kansas City	1–2	Seattle Sounders FC	Kansas City, Kansas
5:00 pm CDT	Russell 60' Zusi 90+4'	Report	Tolo 16' C. Roldan 31' Gómez 53' Bruin 55' A. Roldan 86'	Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 19,248 Referee: Joseph Dickerson

September 29, 2021 27	FC Dallas	1–3	Sporting Kansas City	Frisco, Texas
7:30 pm CDT	Acosta 52' Pepi 68' Munjoma 81'	Report	Sallói 13', 61' Russell 55' (pen.) Barber 90+5'	Stadium: Toyota Stadium Attendance: 12,387 Referee: Jair Marrufo

October 3, 2021 28	Sporting Kansas City	4–2	Houston Dynamo FC	Kansas City, Kansas
3:00 pm CDT	Russell 16' (pen.), 90' Sallói 26' Kinda 57' Zusi 85'	Report	Junqua 16' Hadebe 27' Picault 50' Vera 53' Quintero 76'	Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 17,867 Referee: Alex Chilowicz

October 17, 2021 29	Vancouver Whitecaps FC	2–1	Sporting Kansas City	Vancouver, BC
9:00 pm CDT	Gauld 23' Teibert 36' White 51' Nerwinski 85'	Report	Russell 43' Sánchez 45+1' Walter 70' Kinda 70'	Stadium: BC Place Attendance: 10,990 Referee: Silviu Petrescu

October 23, 2021 30	Seattle Sounders FC	1–2	Sporting Kansas City	Seattle, Washington
8:00 pm CDT	João Paulo 35' Rowe 51' A. Roldan 55' Benezet 58' Gómez 76' Montero 89'	Report	Walter 4' Melia 56' Kinda 63' Espinoza 74' Russell 79'	Stadium: Lumen Field Attendance: 32,139 Referee: Ismail Elfath

October 27, 2021 31	Sporting Kansas City	2–0	LA Galaxy	Kansas City, Kansas
7:30 pm CDT	Russell 40', 82' Isimat-Mirin 90+2'	Report		Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 18,711 Referee: Alan Kelly

October 31, 2021 32	Minnesota United FC	2–1	Sporting Kansas City	Saint Paul, Minnesota
12:00 PM CDT	Fragapane 20' (pen.), 84' Reynoso 39' Alonso 73'	Report	Shelton 8' Duke 48' Kinda 79' Dia 86'	Stadium: Allianz Field Referee: Victor Rivas

November 3, 2021 33	Austin FC	3–1	Sporting Kansas City	Austin, Texas
8:00 pm CDT	Driussi 1' Cascante 22' Gallagher 50' Stroud 60'	Report	Isimat-Mirin 21' Russell 65'	Stadium: Q2 Stadium Attendance: 20,738 Referee: Nima Saghafi

November 7, 2021 34	Sporting Kansas City	0–1	Real Salt Lake	Kansas City, Kansas
5:00 pm CST	Espinoza 78'	Report	Luiz 86' Herrera 90+3' Kreilach 90+5'	Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 19,022 Referee: Ted Unkel

MLS Cup Playoffs

November 20 First round	Sporting Kansas City	3–1	Vancouver Whitecaps FC	Kansas City, Kansas
4:00 PM CST	Shelton 17' Isimat-Mirin 45+3' Zusi 58'	Report	Dájome 39' (pen.) Gaspar 86' Cavallini 89' Godoy 90+2'	Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 19,817 Referee: Alan Kelly

November 28 Western Conference Semifinals	Sporting Kansas City	1–2	Real Salt Lake	Kansas City, Kansas
2:00 PM CST	Russell 24' (pen.)	Report	Luiz 49' Julio 72' Wood 90+1'	Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 21,650 Referee: Kevin Stott

Leagues Cup

August 10, 2021 Quarterfinals	Sporting Kansas City	1–6	León	Kansas City, Kansas
7:00 p.m. CDT	Duke 61'	Report	Colombatto 16' Fernández 27', 44' Mena 62' Meneses 72' Dávila 79'	Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 15,579 Referee: Juan Gabriel Calderón (Costa Rica)

Player statistics

Squad appearances and goals

Last updated on September 23, 2020.

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Major League Soccer		US Open Cup		Playoffs
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Goalkeepers
22	GK	USA	Kendall McIntosh	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
24	GK	USA	John Pulskamp	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
29	GK	USA	Tim Melia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
31	GK	USA	Brooks Thompson	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Defenders
3	DF	ESP	Andreu Fontas	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	DF	CRO	Roberto Punčec	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	DF	FRA	Nicolas Isimat-Mirin	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
8	DF	USA	Graham Zusi	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
13	DF	USA	Amadou Dia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
16	DF	USA	Graham Smith	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
26	DF	USA	Jaylin Lindsey	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
36	DF	POR	Luís Martins	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Midfielders
6	MF	ESP	Ilie	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
10	MF	USA	Gianluca Busio	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
15	MF	HON	Roger Espinoza	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
17	MF	ISR	Gadi Kinda	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
19	MF	USA	Grayson Barber	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
21	MF	COL	Felipe Hernandez	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
28	MF	USA	Cameron Duke	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
54	MF	FRA	Remi Walter	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Forwards
7	FW	SCO	Johnny Russell	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
9	FW	MEX	Alan Pulido	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
11	FW	USA	Khiry Shelton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
20	FW	HUN	Dániel Sallói	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
23	FW	USA	Tyler Freeman	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
25	FW	USA	Ozzie Cisneros	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
96	FW	USA	Wilson Harris	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Players who have made an appearance or had a squad number this season but have left the club

0+1 means player did came on as a sub once. 1+1 means player started once and came on as a sub once.

References

^ MLS Digital Staff (February 10, 2021). "MLS 2021 regular season to start on April 17". Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
^ MLS Communications (February 13, 2021). "Major League Soccer Preseason Schedule Update Feb. 13, 2021". Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
^ ^a ^b Kovzan, Sam (March 1, 2021). "Sporting KC kick off 2021 preseason, presented by Children's Mercy". Sporting KC.
^ ^a ^b Kovzan, Sam (February 3, 2021). "Sporting KC signs 29-year-old French center back Nicolas Isimat-Mirin". Sportingkc.com.
^ Kovzan, Sam (October 21, 2020). "Sporting KC signs 20-year-old forward Wilson Harris as a Homegrown Player". Sporting KC.
^ Kovzan, Sam (December 17, 2020). "Sporting KC selects 26-year-old goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh in Stage 1 of MLS Re-Entry Process". Sporting KC.
^ Kovzan, Sam (December 22, 2020). "Sporting KC signs 25-year-old central midfielder Remi Walter". Sporting KC.
^ ^a ^b ^c Kovzan, Sam (January 20, 2021). "Sporting KC signs Academy products Grayson Barber, Ozzie Cisneros and Brooks Thompson as Homegrown Players". Sportingkc.com.
^ "Procedure Set to Determine Final U.S. Representative in 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League". United States Soccer Federation. September 14, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.

[table_note_res_CCL30.67218751491615-9] As 2021 MLS Western Conference regular season champions (USA3)

[table_note_res_CCL40.67218751491615-11] As highest-ranked U.S. based Division I club (based on 2021 MLS regular season record) not already qualified (USA4)^[9]

[1] MLS Digital Staff (February 10, 2021). "MLS 2021 regular season to start on April 17". Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved February 13, 2021.

[2] MLS Communications (February 13, 2021). "Major League Soccer Preseason Schedule Update Feb. 13, 2021". Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved February 13, 2021.

[Preseason-3] Kovzan, Sam (March 1, 2021). "Sporting KC kick off 2021 preseason, presented by Children's Mercy". Sporting KC.

[Isimat-4] Kovzan, Sam (February 3, 2021). "Sporting KC signs 29-year-old French center back Nicolas Isimat-Mirin". Sportingkc.com.

[Harris-5] Kovzan, Sam (October 21, 2020). "Sporting KC signs 20-year-old forward Wilson Harris as a Homegrown Player". Sporting KC.

[McIntosh-6] Kovzan, Sam (December 17, 2020). "Sporting KC selects 26-year-old goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh in Stage 1 of MLS Re-Entry Process". Sporting KC.

[Walter-7] Kovzan, Sam (December 22, 2020). "Sporting KC signs 25-year-old central midfielder Remi Walter". Sporting KC.

[Academy_Signings-8] Kovzan, Sam (January 20, 2021). "Sporting KC signs Academy products Grayson Barber, Ozzie Cisneros and Brooks Thompson as Homegrown Players". Sportingkc.com.

[10] "Procedure Set to Determine Final U.S. Representative in 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League". United States Soccer Federation. September 14, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.

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