When we at KC Soccer Journal were “Blue Contractors,'' we often wrote articles called Blue Links and Blue Notes, which compiled stories you might have missed. Welcome to the diary entry (title pending). Let's go to the news!
League Cup schedule announced
Summer of football is upon us in Kansas City. With Sporting Kansas City set to host two Group Stage League Cup matches and KC Current winning his three special matches (see below), there's going to be plenty of soccer to miss!
As we speculated in February, Sporting KC will host both Toluca and Chicago Fire in this year's League Cup. It also has a convenient schedule, with Chicago and Toluca playing in midweek, and SKC playing with a week off between games.
- Sunday, July 28 (8 p.m. CT): Chicago Fire sports KC
- Thursday, August 1st (8:00 p.m. CT): Toluca FC vs. Chicago Fire
- Monday, August 5th (8:00 p.m. Central Time): Toluca FC sports KC
Perhaps this will give SKC an advantage over Toluca, which was eliminated from this competition last year.
The top four seeded teams in Liga MX will have slightly limited travel and will operate from their base cities/states. Club America will play in San Diego, Monterrey in Austin, Chivas in San Jose and Los Angeles, Tigres in Houston, and the second game against Miami will be played at the much larger NRG Stadium (I wonder why…). Toluca is the No. 5 seeded team in Liga MX and will run the shaft all the way.
The schedule will be compressed a bit after the group stage, but this probably won't favor Sporting KC's usual lack of rotation. Perhaps this year will teach us a lesson.
- Group Stage: July 26th β August 6th
- Round of 32: August 7-9
- Round 16: August 12-13
- Quarterfinals: August 16th-17th
- Semi-finals: August 20th or August 21st
- Final & 3rd place: August 25th
π€© Everything π begins with a journey πͺ
of #LeagueCup2024 bracket press.by @CoorsLight It is here!
47 clubs in π¨π¦π²π½πΊπΈ
32 people will advance to the final tournament!
of #LeagueCup2024 ποΈ has appearedπ
this is more than soccer #LeagueCupβ League Cup (@LeaguesCup) March 14, 2024
The entire tournament is available to watch with MLS Season Pass.
NWSL & Liga MX Summer Camp
With the Challenge Cup reduced to just one match instead of a $1 million tournament, everyone was looking forward to what the NWSL would come up with for 2024. This week, the NWSL announced his 2024 NWSL and Liga MX Femenil Summer Camp.
The competition will be held during the summer Olympic break and will open on July 19th. It is a unique format with 33 matches played in total. 30 of them will take place across the group stage, to which he belongs to five groups. However, only the four group winners will advance to the four-team playoff. It's a bit of an odd choice, but it pushes you to try to win the match, knowing that even if you're the winner of your group, you might not advance.
All 14 teams from the NWSL will participate in the competition, along with the top six teams from Liga MX's Clausura and Apertura seasons. Those teams are Tigres, Club America, Chivas de Guadalajara, Rayadas de Monterrey, Pachuca and Tijuana.
A quick look at the tournament groups and format for the NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup. π€© pic.twitter.com/TztnU0udEO
β National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) March 20, 2024
The Kansas City Current will host all three group stage games.
- Saturday, July 20th vs. Houston Dash
- Saturday, July 27th vs. Pachuca
- Thursday, August 1st vs. Tigres
The current group is the only one to feature two Liga MX Femenil teams, making for more unique matchups than the other groups. The semi-final matches will take place during the week of August 4, while the title match will take place over the weekend of October 25-27, another international break.
All of these games being played during the break means the team will be without some star players, but it will give a deep team a chance to shine. After a week, the Currents certainly look like they are one of those teams.
A closer look at SKC's set pieces against San Jose
twitter user @cabin__13 (Steven) We analyzed many of the set pieces from Sporting KC's win over the San Jose Earthquakes last weekend. He looked at the goals San Jose scored, the goals San Jose should have scored, and so much more. I thought it was very thought-provoking, so I wanted to share it with you.
Click on the tweet to read the entire thread.
SKC has shifted more men this season, mainly placing them in two-all, meaning two zones (center six, front post) and elsewhere. This change is most likely due to Rosero. He is physical, has good movement, reads the ball well in the air, and attacks with headers. https://t.co/VrjCFMMMPx
β Stephen (@cabin__13) March 22, 2024
behind the shield
Sporting KC publishes its “Behind the Shield” series every Thursday. Not just after a win, but in each game during the season. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend taking a peek behind the curtain.
“Nothing is given to you. You either earn it or take it.” From our lessons #SKCvSJ:3 points.
Behind the shield, press.by @Audi: Strength pic.twitter.com/WnpteEshbK
β Sports Kansas City (@SportingKC) March 21, 2024
My favorite of the season so far is probably the preseason one. That speech by Peter Vermes makes you want to run through a wall.
SKC II home opener
Sporting KC II will play its first home game this weekend against Ventura County FC (aka Los Angeles Galaxy II, the newly rebranded team). If you've never been to Loch Chalk Park, it's free if you're an SKC season ticket member (ask your ticket agent) or just $10 otherwise. Here's what you need to know before you go:
Sporting KC II won a thrilling come-from-behind victory against Houston Dynamo 2 on the road last weekend. Last week, Danny Flores, Ryan Shewe and Chris Lindoff all started for the first team on loan. Ian James, 15, also competed from the SKC Academy. There is no sign of Marinos Tsionis, but he could be needed in the first team this weekend. Russell unlikely to playArenis Vargas is out on international duty and Kyrie Shelton is still dealing with soreness.
Vermes said Russell is unlikely to play in this weekend's game against the Galaxy. He said he would be listed as questionable, but “we need to think long-term.”#SportingKC
β Daniel Sperry (@sperrydaniel94) March 21, 2024
If you can't make it to Lawrence, you can get the game with the MLS Season Pass.
Latest information on Messi/Arrowhead
Lionel Messi injured Missed the friendly match against Argentina During this international vacation. He also missed last weekend's game against DC United.
He's about three weeks away from playing for Sporting KC at Arrowhead.He has a road game against CF Monterrey coming up. in mexico A few days before heading to Kansas City for the CONCACAF Champions Cup. There should be some doubt as to whether he will actually play in Kansas City.
He was given a credit and a partial refund if he did not play in last year's game against the Chicago Fire or in the preseason in Hong Kong. If KC were put in the same situation in April, it would be a bit of a PR disaster. Again, if he doesn't play, he should have a better game to win (I thought that too last year).
quick entry
If this were true, it would be big news. https://t.co/bX25oOplfy
β Jimmy Mack (@jcmack03) March 22, 2024
- 614,000 people watched Saturday's game between KC Current and the Portland Thorns. second most Until now For NWSL matches.
make. Women's. Sports. Accessible. π
Opening match victory @ABC network Obtained high viewership π pic.twitter.com/mlXo71GaPz
β KC Current (@thekccurrent) March 19, 2024
Former U.S. Olympian, MLS All-Star, U.S. Men's National Team midfielder @SachaKljestan club sign in front @opencup!
How on earth?? You'll want to read this.
π° β https://t.co/pT4Iu7X3Xa pic.twitter.com/wHkXQNeFF6β Des Moines Menace (@MenaceSoccer94) March 18, 2024
- ICYMI: Benny Feilhaber sat down with members of Shades of Blue for an interview. At least listen to the shame he gave my colleague David about Messi.
- A little late (from us), American Soccer Analysis has previewed the season for KC Current.
- PSA: The March 30th match between KC Current and Angel City FC has been moved up one hour. It will be broadcast live on ESPN!
π° The March 30th match between KC Current and Angel City FC will begin at 2:30 PM Central Time.
It was previously scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Central Time.The game will be broadcast live on ESPN and ESPN+.#KC Baby
β Cindy Lara (@cinderL9) March 18, 2024