Sporting Kansas City closed out the first leg of the club’s 2026 preseason on Saturday with a 105-minute scrimmage against MLS side Charlotte FC in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Sporting and Charlotte traded chances early on with Daniel Salloi, Manu Garcia and Dejan Joveljic all going close for SKC while Jansen Miller produced a goal-line clearance to deny Charlotte at the other end.
Sporting’s first XI played the opening 60 minutes of the match before a younger group took the field for the final 45 minutes. Charlotte DPs Wilfried Zaha and Pep Biel combined to score the only goal of the game, with the Spaniard firing home from close range in the 87th minute.
Sporting will now return to Kansas City before heading to Palm Springs, California on Tuesday to participate in the Coachella Valley Invitational from Feb. 3-14.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Charlotte FC
Jan. 31, 2026 – The Gardens North County District Park (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.)
Sporting Kansas City 0, Charlotte FC 1
Scoring Summary:
CLT – Pep Biel 87’
Sporting Kansas City Lineup (First 60 minutes)
John Pulskamp; Justin Reynolds, Jansen Miller, Ian James, Jayden Reid; Jake Davis, Jacob Bartlett, Manu Garcia; Calvin Harris (Shapi Suleymanov 46’), Dejan Joveljic, Daniel Salloi
Sporting Kansas City Lineup (Second 45 minutes)
Stefan Cleveland; Jack Francka, Ethan Bartlow, Wyatt Meyer, Nate Young; Cielo Tschantret, Kwaku Agyabeng, Makhi Francis (Carter Derksen 96'); Shapi Suleymanov, Zamir Loyo Reynaga, Shane Donovan
