Sporting Kansas City has long been a cornerstone of Major League Soccer (MLS). One of the founding teams in the leagues formation in 1996, Sporting KC (then called Kansas City Wiz) has enjoyed a rich history full of trophy wins, amazing players and a strongly attached fan base. But, while the glory days were indeed glorious, Sporting KC has faltered heavily in recent years.
The 2025 MLS season has come to a close, and Sporting KC has missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. They finished the season with a measly 28 points coming from a record of 7 wins, 20 losses, and 7 ties while accumulating a –24 goal differential, causing them to finish in last place (15th) in the Western Conference. But this lackluster season isn’t anything new to their fans, as they haven’t had a winning season since 2021, haven’t won a major trophy since 2017 and haven’t won an MLS Cup (the biggest trophy you can win in American soccer) since 2013. In the past, the team has starred national team heroes like Matt Besler and Graham Zusi, but even star-caliber players are missing from the squad. The recent era that Sporting KC is in has been bleak at best, with supporters disappointed at how far the soccer powerhouse has fallen.
Peter Vermes was the staple of Sporting KC, serving as technical director and coach for the team since 2009. While a certainly polarizing figure within the club, with many fans both hating and liking him, he was finally sacked in March of 2025. This decision came after a 6-game winless start to the 2025 season, in which the fans finally had enough and called for him to be fired, causing the club to comply and mutually part way with Vermes. He was replaced by then-assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin as interim head coach, but the replacement didn’t have the successful effect on the season that everyone was hoping for.
So what happens now? Well, recent offseason moves have led to the team releasing 12 players, leaving only 13 active players on the roster. Fan favorite and staple names like Erik Thommy and Logan Ndembe were let go, which caused a stir within the fan base. Long serving players like Khiry Shelton were also let go, and normal starters like Tim Leibold and Nemanja Radoja were not re-signed either. This comes at the helm of David Lee, Sporting KC’s newly appointed General Manager and President of Soccer Operations, a man with success and accolades while working with other clubs who claims this is “the beginning of a new chapter for Sporting Kansas City.”
The squad that is left after the purge are a promising group. A few players are getting national team attention, with defender Zorhan Bassong being regularly selected for the Canadian Nation Team and youngster goalie Jack Kortkamp has been selected for the U.S. U-17 World Cup Squad, as well. The other players left contain homegrown players built in the Sporting Academy, while the rest make impactful contributions to the club on and off the field. Even though half of the team was let go, the remaining group are a promising bunch that can push the club forward with the addition of new signings over this winter’s transfer window.
Sporting KC hasn’t enjoyed success in a long time, and fans are tired of it. But a shakeup has occurred in Sporting Kansas City, as big roster moves, managerial and administrative hirings and newly set standards are promising for the future of the team. Will this be the return to the glory days that the fans and club have been waiting for? Only time will tell, but this is the most hopeful that it has looked for Sporting Kansas City in a long time.
