The schedule is out: Sporting KC gets four nationally televised games in 2020

Sporting Kansas City released its full 2020 schedule Thursday, pulling back the curtain on a regular-season slate of games that includes four turns on national TV.

After venturing north to Vancouver, Canada for their regular-season opener at the Whitecaps Feb. 29, manager Peter Vermes and his players will host the Houston Dynamo on March 7 for opening night at Children’s Mercy Park.

The four nationally broadcast matches are June 13 at Portland’s Providence park against the Timbers (ESPN); home against Portland June 28 (FS1); at the Seattle Sounders on Aug. 8 (ABC); and at the Chicago Fire Sept. 5 (Univision). The game against the Fire will be Sporting’s first game at Soldier Field since 2005.

Sporting will announce details for locally televised matches at a later date.

The Kansas City club opens U.S. Open Cup play in April. New this year, 11 MLS teams — including Sporting — will enter in the third round of the tournament. That’s one round earlier than in recent years.

The first phase of Sporting’s preseason runs Jan. 19 to Feb. 2 and the second phase is Feb. 8-23. The team will announce its full preseason schedule soon.

Here is the club’s full regular-season schedule for 2020.

All times Central ...

February

29 - at Vancouver FC, 9:30 p.m.

March

7 - Houston Dynamo, 7:30 p.m. (home opener)

14 at Atlanta United FC, 6 p.m.

21 - at San Jose Earthquakes, 9 p.m.

28 - Real Salt Lake, 7:30 p.m.

April

4 - at L.A. Galaxy, 9:30 p.m.

11 - at Nashville SC, 7 p.m.

18 - Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m. (Sporting Sustainability; Royals Night)

25 - Minnesota United FC, 7:30 p.m.

May

2 - at LAFC, 9:30 p.m.

9 - Toronto FC, 3 p.m.

16 - at Philadelphia Union, time TBD

23 - Seattle Sounders FC, 7:30 p.m. (Soccer For All)

30 - at FC Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

June

6 - Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.

13 - at Portland Timbers, 4 p.m. (ESPN)

17 - L.A. Galaxy, 7:30 p.m.

20 - Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 8 p.m. (Sporting Legends)

28 - Portland Timbers, 5:30 p.m. (FS1)

July

1 - at Real Salt Lake, 9 p.m.

5 - LAFC, 5:30 p.m. (Americana & Fourth of July)

11 - FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.

18 - at Minnesota United FC, 7 p.m.

25 - FC Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

August

1 - at Montreal Impact, 6 p.m.

8 - at Seattle Sounders FC, 2:30 p.m. (ABC)

15 - San Jose Earthquakes, 7:30 p.m. (Retro *Founding Club* Night)

22 - at New England Revolution, 6:30 p.m.

29 - Columbus Crew SC, 7:30 p.m. (Sporting Salutes)

September

5 - at Chicago Fire FC, 2:30 p.m. (Univision)

12 - at Colorado Rapids 8 p.m.

19 - Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m. (Kick Childhood Cancer Night)

27 - at Houston Dynamo, 6 p.m.

October

4 - New York City FC, 3:30 p.m.

This story was originally published December 19, 2019 at 1:15 PM with the headline "The schedule is out: Sporting KC gets four nationally televised games in 2020."