After two whole months of resting and recharging, the Boys in Black and Blue are getting back on the field for you. A return match against the bottom side in the Western Conference will see the Loons return with what should be a winnable game, but it never pays to take any points for granted, especially in a rivalry match. Sporting Kansas City may not have had the best start to the season, but a break this long has given every side a chance to hit the reset button. This one’s going to be interesting. 

Minnesota United (6-5-4)

Run of Form: D-L-L-D-W

Your Loons went into the World Cup break on the back of some checkered form and will have welcomed the rest they got these last two months. When we last left them, a draw against RSL saw Mauricio González grab his first MNUFC goal in dramatic fashion, equalizing in the third minute of added time to save a point. Kelvin Yeboah’s eight league goals continue to set the pace for the team lead, with All-Star Anthony Markanich sitting at four of his own. With proven contributors across the pitch and a strong position in the table, the Loons are primed for an exciting return to action. 

Sporting Kansas City (3-10-2)

Run of Form: L-L-W-W-L

While the time off may have given SKC a chance to regroup a bit, the problems here run deep. That said, two of their three league wins this season came in their final four games before the break, so perhaps they would’ve preferred to keep rolling. Regardless, it’s hard to really say much about the host’s form after so long without a competitive game, leaving this analysis mostly speculative in nature. Based on what we’ve seen in 2026 and what we saw in their 3-2 loss to St. Louis in their return to action on July 16, Raphaël Wicky’s side will likely be competitive but slightly behind the pace in this weekend’s match. 

Keys to the Match:

Preseason, Take Two

The 2025 MLS Cup Final took place on December 6, 2025. The first game of the 2026 MLS regular season took place on February 21, 2026. That’s a two-and-a-half month gap between games, and since only two teams play in the final, we’ll call it a three-month offseason for the lads. Now, we’re fresh off a two-month break in action, giving every single team in the league a chance to completely reset, restock, and redefine their approach to this stop-start season. SKC added a pair of defenders already this summer, but neither of these sides has made terribly big splashes in the transfer market as of now. The biggest changes you can expect to see in this match will likely be tactical rather than personnel-focused, as a relatively full and fresh contingent for either side should have given the managers plenty to think about during their time off. I’d expect to see a new look from SKC at the minimum, and it’s hard to imagine the Loons will be playing the exact same style they were playing before the break. I’d look to see some new movement from the likes of Anthony Markanich and Kyle Duncan at their respective wingback positions, as inverted runs were becoming more and more frequent for Duncan before the break. Short of that, I reckon we’ll see either some fresh positioning from Kelvin Yeboah or even a totally new approach up front as the Loons look to really jumpstart their goal scoring in the latter portion of the 2026 season. Look for a partnership up top, with both Mamadou Dieng and Mauricio González champing at the bit to get some minutes. 

Dejan Mustard

Dejan Joveljić is a seriously talented attacker. His big move from LA to SKC hasn’t seen him lose his scoring touch, as the striker notched 18 goals in 2025 and already has seven this year. His presence on the pitch means that SKC will always pose a scoring threat — the question is, will it be enough? The club formerly known as the Wizards has played some pretty tight matches this year, with five being decided by a single goal and two more ending up as draws. They scored in all but one of those close calls, proving that when they’re able to get themselves on the scoresheet, they’re competitive. Joveljić is their best shot at doing that, but with just a single multi-goal performance in 2026, he needs a little help if KC wants to turn his production into points. It feels like not only does he need to be on his A-game, but someone from the supporting cast will need to find something more if the hosts want to have any hope of reversing their fortunes in a meaningful way. That could be Calvin Harris or Capita Capemba (who scored alongside Joveljić in SKC’s loss to St. Louis), both of whom are tied for second on SKC’s scoring charts with two goals apiece. Basically, the Loons need to limit the damage from Joveljić without completely turning their attention to him. Let him get his goal, but shut down the less potent threats, and you’ll have a decent chance to come out on top. 

False Start?

Minnesota United had a bye week during this first week of MLS action, giving the Loons another seven days to prepare for their competitive restart. After so much time off, though, it’s fair to wonder whether that additional time off is a help or a hindrance. Sure, SKC lost their return match, but they’ve now got competitive minutes in their legs, putting them slightly ahead of the Loons as far as getting back in the swing of things is concerned. These are professional athletes, but there’s something about the rhythm created by getting a few games under your belt that affects form at every single level of the game. The visitors will need to come out of the gates fast on Wednesday, otherwise, they risk chasing the game without any momentum at their backs to push them forward. I expect to see an aggressive press like we have in several games this season, as the Loons go hunting for an early goal to assert themselves and announce their intentions for this second half of the season.