Sporting Kansas City started the 2026 season under new head coach Raphael Wicky on the road at San Jose. Both teams are still under construction, but veteran MLS  coach Bruce Arena’s squad has a year under his tutelage, and it showed.

The match was fairly even through most of the first half. Sporting KC had more possession and completed passes, but San Jose was better on the counter and at creating shots.

Wicky’s Wizards….

Sporting KC started an inexperienced back line. Ian James was the only returning player from 2025, and at just 17 he only had 8 games under his belt. The team was already not deep, but injuries to Zorhan Bassong and Stephen Afrifa forced the club to sign Sporting KC II midfielders Shane Donovan and Zamir Loyo Reynaga to short-term agreements. Forward Taylor Calheira was just signed this week and also made the bench and was given a cameo appearance in stoppage time.

San Jose starters…

San Jose came out strong but Sporting Kansas City seemed to be growing into the game, generating possession, smart passing patterns, and looking very organized in the attack. The defense was not as solid-looking, but they were holding up, and it looked like the teams might make it to the half scoreless.

A turning point may have been when right back Justin Reynolds had to leave the game with an injury. Draft pick Kwaku Agyabeng made his debut for SKC as a replacement for Reynolds. Jake David moved to the right-back spot, and Agyabeng slid into midfield.

San Jose earned 15 corners in the match and took the lead on one of those in the 42nd minute. The ball was whipped on goal from Preston Judd’s header and was saved by John Pulskamp. The SKC keeper had to get low to make the save, leaving the ball in the box where Daniel Munie opportunistically poked it home.

Just three minutes later, Judd was able to earn his own goal after a Sporting KC giveaway in midfield. Niko Tsakiris drove towards the KC goal before slipping it to the left to Jamar Ricketts who quickly put it back across the goal to Judd. San Jose went to the locker room in a good mood after scoring twice in the last few minutes of the half.

Sporting tried to come out of the half and work their way back into the game, but in the 54th minute, San Jose scored their third goal.  Munie secured his second with a header assisted by Beau Leroux.

Forty minutes were pretty good for Wicky’s Wizards but a lack of depth and injuries made it difficult for his SKC to get a result. Let us know below who you think played well or didn’t, and your overall thoughts on the match.