MLS announces 2021 schedule, with Sporting opening at New York

Major League Soccer’s 26th season will have a later-than-normal starting date, with a 34-game schedule that will see Sporting Kansas City playing at the New York Red Bulls, a three new stadiums making their debuts.  West End Stadium in Cincinnati will open on May 16th, when FC Cincinnati hosts Inter Miami.  Expansion club Austin FC will debut Q2 Stadium on June 19th against the San Jose Earthquakes, with that match following seven straight road games for Austin.  New Crew Stadium in Columbus will open on July 3rd, as the defending MLS Champion Columbus Crew will be in action.

A battle between players and owners in signing the new collective bargaining agreement delayed the start of the season by two weeks.  However, the end date for regular season games remains in the same time frame, set for November 7th, with 14 teams advancing to the playoffs, starting November 19th, and concluding with the championship showdown on December 11th.  

Of the 34-game schedule, most games will be played among teams in the same conference.  However, the Eastern Conference has 14 teams this season and the West 13, meaning that 11 West teams will play just two matches against teams from the East, with two teams in the West playing three matches in the East.  All 14 Eastern Conference teams will be two matches against western foes.

Sporting Kansas City’s trip to New Jersey to play the Red Bulls will be April 7th, with KC’s regular season finale on November 7th at Children’s Mercy Park in KCK against Real Salt Lake.  The home opener, on April 23rd, will see Orlando City SC visit Kansas City, in a 6:30 match on Fox Sports 1.  In addition to the matches against the Red Bulls and Orlando, Sporting will play the Eastern Conference’s Chicago Fire FC on September 11th.

Here is the 2021 regular season schedule for Sporting Kansas City: 

Sporting KC 2021 MLS Regular Season Schedule

Home matches in caps; all details subject to change.