For the Glory KC - A Sporting KC Podcast

For the Glory KC is back with the 203rd episode of the show!Before we get to the podcast, if you'd like to support us, check out Upside. It's an app you can use to buy gas, eat out and in some cities buy groceries and get cash back for buying what you are going to buy anyways. If you want to support the podcast by doing what you are already doing, join Upside with our affiliate link. You get $10 and we get $10! Or support us with our other referral links. Sporting Kansas City did it! They avoided finishing dead last. The only original MLS team to avoid that distinction for now 31 seasons and counting. It's weird to be happy about being 29th in the standings, but it's the little things. We decided to go After Dark style with our immediate reactions to the "high" of coming in 29th.Before Sporting KC even took the field, they needed CF Montreal to lose. And they did. Again. Thankfully the Vancouver Whitecaps dispatched them fairly easily, though it was touch and go before the Caps poured it on. Then the weight was on Sporting KC to get the job done. They needed to win a game, something they had failed to do in their previous seven tries. But on the back of an Andre Luiz drawn and converted PK, the defense held on for a shutout and San Diego FC lost 1-0 in their home stadium.Sheena and I talk through some milestones, moments from the game that went well and were a bit sketchy, including the new partnership between Owen Wolff and Lasse Berg Johnsen, Taylor Calheira's early injury, Justin Reynolds late heroics and so many missed chances!The conversation weaved between the game and the season on the whole. Sporting KC still ended up with the most goals allowed in league history, but they avoided the worst goal differential. That naturally led to a conversation about guys who should and shouldn't be here and a coach that may still be out of a job, but we were divided on Rapha Wicky.The Kansas City Current pulled off something they couldn't in 2025. They won a playoff game. It wasn't without controversy. The game winning goal came on a penalty kick that is probably a foul, but one that often goes uncalled. And that wasn't the only controversial decision. Angel City FC fans were up in arms about missed penalties, primarily the possible DiBernardo handball. However, they should probably be more upset about a play the broadcast didn't even replay. Regardless, KC advance to face the winner of Gotham FC and the Seattle Reign.Give the show a listen and we'll dive into these topics and of course go off topic since it's For the Glory KC After Dark!In the Digital Crawl, we hit two more topics:College Soccer and a very weird voteMLS Cup Playoffs and hate watchingHere is a rundown of sections and start times:Intro - 0:00Sporting KC - 1:29KC Current - 1:03:01Digital Crawl - 1:30:46Upcoming GamesUMKC Roos vs. St. Thomas, WED, Nov 11th at 6:00PM CT (Finals on the weekend)KC Current vs. winner of Gotham/SeattleUSMNT vs Haiti (Nations League)MLS goes into an international break before the playoffsAs a special gift to For the Glory KC listeners and KC Soccer Journal readers, Backheeled.com is giving away 30 days of their amazing, independent American soccer coverage for free. If you decide you want to turn that into a paid membership, they'll give you 10 percent off too. Just follow this link!Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron. 

For the Glory KC is back with the 202nd episode of the show!Before we get to the podcast, if you'd like to support us, check out Upside. It's an app you can use to buy gas, eat out and in some cities buy groceries and get cash back for buying what you are going to buy anyways. If you want to support the podcast by doing what you are already doing, join Upside with our affiliate link. You get $10 and we get $10! Or support us with our other referral links. Sporting Kansas City managed to only pick up one point in a three-game in eight-day stretch. They blew a lead on Wednesday on the road at Minnesota United. Taylor Calheira put the team up early on what was one of the few moments of first half offense. Then, as has been the case all season, Sporting KC collapsed with two goals in four minutes to lose (plus a third in a 16-minute stretch). SKC also set a record for futility giving up more goals in a season than any team in MLS history.Sheena and I break down the good, bad and ugly from that game, including the post-game press conference with Rapha Wicky, where he said, “I don't think the system is a problem. I don’t think it’s a tactical problem." Hard disagree. Things went a little better at the home finale where Sporting KC fought back to earn a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas, who are way up in second place in the Western Conference. It came down to a penalty kick save by Stefan Cleveland after a questionable handball call on Jansen Miller.It wasn't the only bad officiating on the night. There was a possible missed DOGSO on Dallas and two horrible challenges suffered by Jacob Bartlett, including this one where he gets a yellow despite winning the ball and Romero missing it and crushing him.And frankly, I can't believe this second challenge isn't a red. The force is ridiculous and Bartlett is probably done for the year and out for the finale in San Diego.Speaking of San Diego, Sporting KC remain alive to avoid the Wooden Spoon if everything goes right on Saturday. CF Montreal need to lose at home to the Vancouver Whitecaps and SKC need to win in Cali. That, plus news on Erik Palmer-Brown, Zamir Loyo Reynaga, SKC II's potential move to Iowa and the 2027 Sprint Season schedule is out!The Kansas City Current ended their season strong with their fifth straight win. They are the hottest team in the NWSL and did what they were supposed to in their 2-0 victory over Racing Louisville on the road. That sets them up for a home playoff game against Ally Sentnor and Angel City FC this coming Saturday.In the Digital Crawl, we touch on a couple more topics:A confusing new tournament from the MASL for women, despite having a women's league, none of those teams are in it, including the AstrasUMKC will host the Summit League Tourney semifinal and finalKansas City World Cup dataand the US U-17 Women knock off Spain before losing to North KoreaHere is a rundown of sections and start times:Intro - 0:00Sporting KC - 7:47KC Current - 1:09:46Digital Crawl - 1:15:57Upcoming GamesKC Current vs. Angel City, SAT, Nov 7th at 11AM CTSporting KC @ San Diego FC, SAT, Nov 7th at 6:00PM (Decision Day)As a special gift to For the Glory KC listeners and KC Soccer Journal readers, Backheeled.com is giving away 30 days of their amazing, independent American soccer coverage for free. If you decide you want to turn that into a paid membership, they'll give you 10 percent off too. Just follow this link!Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron. 

For the Glory KC is back with the 201st episode of the show!Before we get to the podcast, if you'd like to support us, check out Upside. It's an app you can use to buy gas, eat out and in some cities buy groceries and get cash back for buying what you are going to buy anyways. If you want to support the podcast by doing what you are already doing, join Upside with our affiliate link. You get $10 and we get $10! Or support us with our other referral links. Sporting Kansas City inches closer to unwanted history after a 2-1 loss to Austin FC, while the KC Current lock up an NWSL playoff berth.Another second-half collapse has Sporting KC standing on the precipice of an all-time low. Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Austin FC pushed the club to 77 goals conceded on the year, just one shy of matching the MLS single-season record set by the San Jose Earthquakes in 2024. Stephen Afrifa provided the lone bright spot with his goal, but even he failed to score two more golden opportunities. On the other end of the pitch, calamitous defending and tactical paralysis ultimately unraveled the night. On the latest episode of For the Glory KC, we break down why manager Rapha Wicky refuses to adjust his system to his personnel, debate whether nineteen-year-old Ian James needs to start down the stretch and look at what Afrifa said postgame about his contract status.We also dive into the front office restructuring with three major executive hires from European soccer and rugby, check in on the Wooden Spoon standings, and highlight a couple standout podcast from around the KC soccer community. And there are Ilie Sanchez, Johnny Russell, Tim Melia, Graham Zusi and Benny Feilhaber sightings and/or news!Across the river, the mood was far more celebratory. The Kansas City Current punched their postseason ticket before kicking a ball on Sunday, then punctuated the weekend with a gritty 2-1 comeback win over the Washington Spirit at CPKC Stadium. Vanessa DiBernardo provided the game-winner off a record-setting setup from Croix Bethune, who officially broke the NWSL single-season assist record with her eleventh helper. We run through the postseason seeding race heading into Decision Day, dissect the disputed attendance numbers, and round up league-wide off-field news.In the Digital Crawl, we touch on a couple more topics:Nashville SC locking up the Supporter's ShieldThe US are looking to hose the first ever Women's Club World Cup in 2028The UMKC Roos win the Summit Leagueand the Ballon d'or results are inHere is a rundown of sections and start times:Intro - 0:00Sporting KC - 7:09KC Current - 1:09:31Digital Crawl - 1:36:25Upcoming GamesSporting KC @ Minnesota United, WED, Oct 28 at 7:30PMSporting KC vs. FC Dallas, SAT, Oct 31 at 2:00PMKC Current @ Racing Louisville, SUN, Nov 1 at 1:00PM (Decision Day)As a special gift to For the Glory KC listeners and KC Soccer Journal readers, Backheeled.com is giving away 30 days of their amazing, independent American soccer coverage for free. If you decide you want to turn that into a paid membership, they'll give you 10 percent off too. Just follow this link!Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron. 

For the Glory KC is back with the 200th episode of the show!Before we get to the podcast, if you'd like to support us, check out Upside. It's an app you can use to buy gas, eat out and in some cities buy groceries and get cash back for buying what you are going to buy anyways. If you want to support the podcast by doing what you are already doing, join Upside with our affiliate link. You get $10 and we get $10! Or support us with other referral links. ---Sporting Kansas City had an atrocious week, so we shift the beginning of the focus of the podcast to it being our 200th episode instead. We have a mailbag, including questions about our favorite memories, Z-Man sandwiches, a mini-version of who we would keep or get rid of the nine players out of contract and Sheena goes wild ranking Sporting KC's best all-time hair styles. I give a little inside information from the KC Cauldron's Hot Ones event with surprise (non-wing-eating) guest, David Lee. First, he took accountability, then he shared some news about hires he's made and where the roster moves will be focused. Unfortunately, we do have to discuss the back-to-back losses to Nashville SC and Real Salt Lake, but it mostly turns into a rant about Rapha Wicky and his plan. He has one, right? That segued perfectly into the Wooden Spoon update, which is getting quite grim. Plus, news on Owen Wolff and former SKC player Mikey Lopez.Thankfully the KC Current are playing their best soccer of the year at the absolute right time, with just two games to go before the playoffs. They went on the road and beat the Utah Royals 2-0 to move into one of the home playoff positions. Two critical games to go. In the Digital Crawl, we touch on a couple more topics:NWSL and USL Super League in one tournamentUSWNT have a come from behind drawKC Comets signingTragedy in Wichita's soccer communityHere is a rundown of sections and start times:Intro - 0:00Sporting KC - 6:59KC Current - 1:50:39Digital Crawl - 2:03:12Upcoming GamesSt. Louis City at Columbus Crew, WED, Oct 21 @ 7:00PM Sporting KC vs. Austin FC, SAT, Oct 24 @ 7:30PMUS U17s vs. China U17s, SUN, Oct 25 @ 1:00PMKC Current vs. Washington Spirit, SUN, Oct 25 @ 4:00PMNOTE: Apologies for any technical issues on this episode. Sheena is still sick and coughed a ton, I edited out a bunch of them, but certainly probably missed some or it would have never come out. Also, our recording platform experienced difficulties. Hopefully #200 wasn't ruined for you over the problems!As a special gift to For the Glory KC listeners and KC Soccer Journal readers, Backheeled.com is giving away 30 days of their amazing, independent American soccer coverage for free. If you decide you want to turn that into a paid membership, they'll give you 10 percent off too. Just follow this link!Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron. 

For the Glory KC is back with the 199th episode of the show!Before we get to the podcast, if you'd like to support us, we talked at the start of the episode about Upside. It's an app you can use to buy gas, eat out and in some cities buy groceries and get cash back for buying what you are going to buy anyways. If you want to support the podcast by doing what you are already doing, join Upside with our affiliate link. You get $10 and we get $10!Sporting Kansas City pull off a comeback draw that almost felt like a win on Saturday night. After falling down 3-1 to the Portland Timbers, a three-minute burst saw goals from Justin Reynolds and Andre Luiz level things up before Sporting KC limped to the finish line to hold on to the draw.Sheena and I break down the happenings from the game all the way from the lineup changes (and injury updates) to the performances of Andre Luiz (duh!), Jansen Miller, Emir Karic, Taylor Calheira, Kwaku Agyabeng and more. And Sheena wants you to watch this video.We also do our weekly Wooden Spoon update, where SKC are now just two points behind CF Montreal. All the teams around Sporting KC faltered in the standings, but KC only made up a point. The Columbus Crew, Atlanta United and D.C. United, joined Montreal in losing with only Minnesota United earning a point.In other Sporting KC news, Peter Mallouk gave an interview to the KCBJ, providing a small look behind the curtain of the rebuild. SKC are also rumored to be hiring Sebastian Stein from Eintracht Frankfurt. He was their top scout. And Sporting KC II have a bit more news on their potential move to Des Moines.The KC Current had the week off, but there were a couple small stories around the team worth a mention, including Michelle Cooper getting on the field at right back for the USWNT against Spain in a 2-0 loss.In the Digital Crawl, we hit a couple more topics:USMNT win againNWSL ExpansionHere is a rundown of sections and start times:Intro - 0:00Sporting KC - 11:46KC Current - 1:05:54Digital Crawl - 1:08:55Upcoming GamesUSWNT vs. Spain, TUES, Oct 13th at 6:00PM CSTSporting KC @ Nashville, WED, Oct 14th at 7:30PMKC Current @ Utah Royals, SAT, Oct 17th at 5:30PMSporting KC vs RSL, SAT, Oct 17th at 7:30PMAs a special gift to For the Glory KC listeners and KC Soccer Journal readers, Backheeled.com is giving away 30 days of their amazing, independent American soccer coverage for free. If you decide you want to turn that into a paid membership, they'll give you 10 percent off too. Just follow this link!Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.