Sporting KC’s summer included memorable experiences with Argentina, England
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sporting shared Compass Minerals center with Argentina; England used Swope Soccer Village.
- SKC players encountered Argentina players like Lisandro Martínez in saunas and cold tubs.
- Sporting KC resumes MLS play Thursday while sitting last in the Western Conference.
Sporting Kansas City players enjoyed some memorable World Cup experiences over their break and in preparation for the rest of their MLS season.
SKC had to share its facilities with the Argentina national team when it took over Compass Minerals National Performance Center for the World Cup. The England national team also used Swope Soccer Village for its World Cup base camp; SKC II typically trains there.
Sporting has moved back into its home with Argentina and England facing off in Atlanta in Wednesday’s semifinal match. SKC’s MLS slate restarts Thursday against rival St. Louis City SC.
While Argentina and SKC never trained at the same time, there was certainly some overlap with players from both teams using the facilities. For example, SKC players ran into Argentina players — like Lisandro Martínez — in the sauna and in the cold tub.
Sporting KC striker Dejan Joveljić watched both of Argentina’s matches in Kansas City. New center back Or Blorian went to Argentina’s quarterfinal against Switzerland on Saturday.
“It’s been amazing,” Joveljić told reporters Tuesday. “A few times we saw the players, we watched the trainings, and we had a chance to talk with the players. So that’s what is very important. I think that also will give us extra push to continue in the last 20 games to be able to perform on the highest level.”
Blorian, who signed with the team in February and officially joined in June from Israeli champions Hapoel Be’er Sheva, added: “The atmosphere in the city was amazing.”
“I went to the Argentina game on Saturday,” he continued. “It was amazing. Also, to see all these big players here around us, like in the gym or making recovery in the hot tub, was really nice to see them and to speak with them. Obviously, they are the best in the world for me. So yeah, it’s really nice.
“The atmosphere was amazing around the city, not just here in the facility. Like all the city was really good.”
In addition to attending games, some SKC players, including Blorian and Joveljić also got the chance to scrimmage England. Joveljić got a picture with England star Harry Kane.
“Playing against England for our team in a little scrimmage is something many players will not experience often in their lives,” Joveljić said.
Even new Colombian defender Moisés Mosquera got to watch his fellow countrymen when they played against Ghana at Kansas City (Arrowhead) Stadium in the Round of 32. He spent the last three seasons with FC Juárez in Mexico after he rose through the youth ranks to debut with Marítimo in Portugal.
It gives the 25-year-old motivation to reach that stage; he has yet to earn a call-up to his national team.
“I’d love to reach that level someday, but I know I have to give my all and really work on the details,” Mosquera said through a translator. “That said, I believe I’ve joined a great club, and I think they have everything needed for me to keep growing, both as a person and as a footballer.”
The players will take every crumb that they’ve gathered over the tournament and hope it contributes to their push from the bottom of the MLS Western Conference standings, where Sporting sits in last place (15th).
“I feel like the league is very balanced,” Blorian said. “So for me, we want to go to every game, every stadium, to play our game, our system, and try to win.”
This story was originally published July 15, 2026 at 12:48 PM with the headline "Sporting KC’s summer included memorable experiences with Argentina, England."
