Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park promises to be a unique chapter in Major League Soccer’s storied history, as the LA Galaxy and Sporting Kansas City—two of the league’s most decorated clubs—prepare to square off in their 83rd all-time meeting. But this isn’t your typical late-season clash. Both teams, shockingly, have already been eliminated from playoff contention, with the Galaxy, last year’s MLS Cup champions, now languishing at the bottom of the Western Conference alongside their visitors from Kansas City. For fans who crave drama, pride and future promise are still very much on the line.
LA Galaxy comes into this match having found some stability at home, unbeaten in three of their last four league games (0-1-3). Their last home triumph was a convincing 3-0 shutout of the Colorado Rapids on August 23, a result that offered a brief respite in what has been a difficult campaign. The Galaxy’s all-time record against Sporting Kansas City stands at 33-31-18 across all competitions, with an 18-8-9 advantage in regular season home matches. That’s a stat that will surely buoy the spirits of the home faithful, even if the stakes are no longer about silverware.
The last time these two heavyweights collided was back on May 4, 2025, when Sporting Kansas City eked out a 1-0 victory at Children’s Mercy Park. That game was remarkable for one bizarre reason: Sporting won without registering a single shot, a first in MLS history. The only goal came courtesy of an own goal by LA’s Maya Yoshida, who inadvertently redirected Daniel Salloi’s cross past his own goalkeeper. Since then, fortunes have diverged and dipped, but the rivalry remains as compelling as ever.
For Sporting Kansas City, the 2025 season has been a rollercoaster of grit and disappointment. Officially eliminated from postseason contention after a 2-0 home defeat to the Vancouver Whitecaps last weekend, Sporting will miss the playoffs for the third time in four years—and for the second consecutive season, a stretch of futility not seen since 2009-2010. Still, there’s no shortage of fight in Peter Vermes’ squad. Sporting has clawed back 14 points from losing positions this year, tied for fifth-most in MLS, and substitutes have chipped in with nine goals, the third-best mark in the league.
“We’ve shown plenty of fight this season, even if the results haven’t always gone our way,” said Vermes in a recent press conference. “The guys have kept competing, and that’s something we can build on as we look ahead.”
Saturday’s match also marks a homecoming of sorts for Sporting’s Serbian striker, Dejan Joveljic. After three-and-a-half years with the Galaxy, Joveljic was traded to Kansas City in the first-ever cash-for-player deal in league history. He’s thrived in his new surroundings, already notching 17 goals in MLS play this season—a career high—and sitting third in the league for goals since the start of 2024, trailing only Lionel Messi and Denis Bouanga. Joveljic’s 38 goals over that span are a testament to his consistency and predatory instincts in front of goal.
“It’s always special to return to a place where you’ve had so many memories,” said Joveljic earlier this week. “But my focus is on helping Kansas City finish the season strong.”
On the Galaxy side, the sense of disappointment is palpable. After lifting the MLS Cup last December, few could have predicted such a rapid decline. The Galaxy’s supporters have watched their team struggle to recapture last year’s magic, with the club now occupying the Western Conference’s basement. Still, history is on their side in this matchup: in 35 all-time regular season meetings at Dignity Health Sports Park, LA has lost just eight times to Kansas City, winning 18 and drawing nine.
Despite their woes, the Galaxy have had moments to savor. Their 3-0 win over Colorado Rapids in August was a reminder of what this squad is capable of when firing on all cylinders. And while their overall record in recent weeks is mixed, the team has managed to avoid defeat in three of their last four league outings. For head coach Greg Vanney, these final matches are about laying the groundwork for a brighter 2026.
“We know this isn’t where we want to be, but every game is a chance to improve, to show pride, and to give our fans something to cheer about,” Vanney said in his pre-match remarks. “We have a lot of young talent, and these moments are crucial for their development.”
Sporting Kansas City’s recent visit to LA, on June 15, 2024, ended in a 4-2 defeat. The Galaxy raced out to a two-goal lead through Dejan Joveljic (then still in LA colors) and Gabriel Pec. Although Stephen Afrifa and Robert Castellanos pulled goals back for Sporting, Joseph Painstil and Miguel Berry ensured the points stayed in Los Angeles. That result was emblematic of the Galaxy’s attacking flair at home—something they’ll look to rediscover this weekend.
One subplot to watch: Sporting’s young center back Ian James. The 17-year-old Homegrown talent has made seven appearances this season, including three MLS starts that have yielded a 1-1-1 record. James has impressed with his composure and athleticism, even clocking the fastest top speed (22.1 mph) of any Sporting player this year. Fresh off a stint with the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team in the Netherlands, James represents the next generation of Kansas City stars.
Meanwhile, Sporting’s midfield has received a boost with the return of Erik Thommy, who made his first start since July 4 in last weekend’s loss to Vancouver. The German playmaker, who missed six matches due to a hip injury, has chipped in four goals and four assists this season, ranking him fourth on the team in total goal contributions. Thommy’s creativity will be vital as Sporting seeks to end their campaign on a high note.
With both teams out of the playoff race, Saturday’s contest may lack postseason implications, but don’t expect the intensity to wane. Pride, personal milestones, and the chance to build momentum for 2026 are all at stake. The Galaxy will look to leverage their strong home record against Kansas City, while Sporting aims to continue their recent trend of resilience on the road—having lost just two of their last eight away matches dating back to 2015.
As the sun sets over Dignity Health Sports Park, fans can expect a match brimming with storylines—old faces in new places, young stars emerging, and two proud clubs determined to give their supporters one more reason to believe. While the playoff dream is over for this season, the future, for both the LA Galaxy and Sporting Kansas City, is very much in play.
