Sporting KC drawn against Colorado Springs Switchbacks in U.S. Open Cup return

Sporting Kansas City are back in the U.S. Open Cup, and the road begins in Colorado. The Wizards have been drawn against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the Round of 32, marking their first appearance in the competition since their run to the 2024 final. 

That campaign ended in disappointment, a 3-1 extra-time loss to Los Angeles FC, but it also served as a reminder: this tournament is important to the club. 

The teams will meet on Tuesday, April 14 in Colorado Springs. The match will take place at the 8,000-seat Weidner Field.  A win over the Switchbacks would pit Sporting Kansas City against either MLS side the Colorado Rapids or USL League One club Union Omaha.

Sporting KC are one of the competition’s powerhouses, with four titles (2004, 2012, 2015, 2017) and a consistent history of taking the Open Cup seriously when other MLS clubs don’t. Sporting Kansas City, the Seattle Sounders, and Chicago Fire are the only MLS teams to win the competition a total of four times. 

If the Wizards can lift the trophy in 2026, it would put them level with Bethlehem Steel and Maccabee Los Angeles as the only five-time winners of the cup tournament. It is safe to say, the club have been a cup team throughout the Sporting-era. 

A tricky opponent with momentum

Colorado Springs will have confidence after navigating a dramatic path to the Round of 32. Their latest Round of 64 win came against Spokane Velocity. The Switchbacks controlled large stretches of the match but ultimately needed penalties to advance.

The club play with physicality, which is a trait that often troubles MLS sides in this U.S. Open Cup. The Open Cup tournament has a long history of exposing teams that treat these matches as formalities rather than fights. 

Raphael Wicky will hope his side can overcome the lower-league side with the brand of exciting counter-attacking play fans have seen in 2026.

A test in the Rocky Mountains

The Round of 32 clash with the Colorado Springs Switchbacks will be sandwiched between a home fixture against the San Jose Earthquakes and an away trip to play the Vancouver Whitecaps. 

Those are two difficult league fixtures, and Sporting Kansas City have already lost 3-0 to the San Jose Earthquakes in 2026 MLS play.  Sporting Kansas City now have 10 matches before the 2026 FIFA World Cup break occurs. 

The Round of 32 U.S. Open Cup tie will be the first-ever meeting between Sporting Kansas City and the Colorado Switchbacks.