Kickoff: 8:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM CT
Venue: Children’s Mercy Park — Kansas City, Kansas
Broadcast: Apple TV — MLS Season Pass
Venue Profile — Children’s Mercy Park
- Location: Kansas City, KS
- Capacity: ~18,500
- Surface: Natural grass
- Atmosphere: One of MLS’s most passionate and coordinated supporter sections
- Team Fit: SKC plays more aggressively at home, using width and overlapping fullbacks
Children’s Mercy Park is known for high‑tempo matches, strong home‑field energy, and excellent pitch quality, ideal for possession‑based and pressing teams.
Weather Forecast (Kansas City)
Kickoff Weather Rating: 8/10 — Warm, breezy, excellent soccer conditions
- Temperature: 72–75°F
- Sky: Partly cloudy
- Wind: 10–14 mph from the south
- Rain Chance: 15%
- Humidity: 55–60%
- Impact:
- Moderate wind may affect long diagonals and set pieces
- Warm conditions favor high‑tempo pressing
- Excellent pitch conditions expected
Injury Report
New York Red Bulls
- Lewis Morgan — Probable (ankle)
- Emil Forsberg — Probable (hip)
- Cameron Harper — Out (hamstring)
- Sean Nealis — Questionable (groin)
- John Tolkin — Probable (illness)
Sporting Kansas City
- Alan Pulido — Questionable (knee)
- Johnny Russell — Out (hamstring)
- Erik Thommy — Probable (ankle)
- Dany Rosero — Out (foot)
- Tim Melia — Probable (shoulder)
Impact Summary:
- Red Bulls have their attacking core available; Forsberg and Morgan are essential.
- SKC missing Russell and Rosero significantly weakens both their wing play and defensive stability.
- Pulido’s status is the biggest swing factor for SKC’s attack.
Team Records & Recent Form
New York Red Bulls (5‑5‑4)
Last 5: 2‑2‑1 Road Record: 2‑3‑2 Goals For: 20 Goals Against: 18
Form Notes:
- Pressing structure improving after early‑season inconsistency
- Forsberg orchestrating well in the half‑spaces
- Defense vulnerable when Nealis is out
Sporting Kansas City (3‑8‑2)
Last 5: 1‑3‑1 Home Record: 2‑3‑1 Goals For: 17 Goals Against: 25
Form Notes:
- One of the coldest teams in MLS
- Defense leaking goals, especially without Rosero
- Attack inconsistent without Pulido and Russell
Key Player Matchups
1. Emil Forsberg (RBNY) vs. SKC Midfield
- Forsberg’s creativity vs. Thommy’s work rate
- If Forsberg finds pockets, Red Bulls control tempo
- SKC must deny central channels
Edge: Forsberg
2. Lewis Morgan (RBNY) vs. SKC Fullbacks
- Morgan’s pace and finishing vs. SKC’s vulnerable wide channels
- SKC fullbacks struggle vs. quick 1v1 wingers
- Expect RBNY to target the right flank heavily
Edge: Morgan
3. Alan Pulido (SKC) vs. Red Bulls Center‑Backs
- Pulido’s availability is crucial
- If he plays, SKC gains a major hold‑up and finishing threat
- If he doesn’t, SKC becomes far more predictable
Edge: Red Bulls, unless Pulido is fully fit.
4. John Tolkin (RBNY) vs. SKC Wingers
- Tolkin’s overlapping runs vs. SKC’s depleted wing depth
- SKC missing Russell removes their best wide threat
- Tolkin can dominate the left side
Edge: Tolkin
Series History
- All‑time: Red Bulls lead 20–18–10
- At Kansas City: SKC leads 12–7–4
- Last 5 meetings: Red Bulls lead 3–1‑1
Trend: Historically even, but recent form favors New York.
Betting Trends
New York Red Bulls
- 2‑2‑1 in last five
- Overs hit in 3 of last 5
- Scored in 8 straight matches
Sporting Kansas City
- 1‑3‑1 in last five
- Conceded 2+ goals in 5 of last 7
- Overs hit in 4 of last 6
Head‑to‑Head
- Red Bulls unbeaten in last three
- Both teams scored in 3 of last 4 meetings
MATCH ODDS
New York Red Bulls + 105
Sporting Kansas City + 200
Draw + 290
Over 2.5 – 140 Under 2.5 + 110
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, May 22, 2026
