Tight game in store in MLS mid-table clash
Two clubs meet in MLS 2025 for the first time in MLS competition when Sporting Kansas City host Charlotte on Thursday.
Both sides will be desperate to come out of their respective rough patches in form and climb up the tables.
Our Sporting Kansas City vs Charlotte prediction highlights the importance of the fixture for both teams who are seeking to turn their seasons around.
Sporting KC have won only once in their last 5 MLS games, drawing two and losing two.
The home side are coming off consecutive defeats after being beaten 2-4 by FC Dallas in their most recent home game.
Kerry Zavagnin took over the club on March 31, 2025, and has had little time to work his magic as he attempts to fix a defence.
Charlotte are in no better form with only two wins and three defeats from their last 5 games, but their most recent win was an impressive 0-2 victory away at Toronto FC.
Dean Smith has brought organisation to the club since taking over as head coach in December 2023.
Two teams with different styles
Sporting Kansas City play open football, they like to dominate possession and get the ball into wide areas where their overlapping fullbacks can create space in behind the opposing defence. The Sporting Kansas City vs Charlotte preview suggests that the pace on the flanks could play a decisive role in this fixture. They try to dictate the tempo of the game, although their defensive weaknesses can leave them open to the counter-attack.
Charlotte FC play the more pragmatic, compact style of football that Smith has instilled in the team. They are more likely to play at a steady pace and their counter-attacking play is more rapid, with Enzo Copetti’s physicality providing a different dimension to their front line.
This encounter is also of interest from a betting perspective, and the latest Sporting Kansas City vs Charlotte odds reflect how closely matched the teams are at the moment. This should be a close game with both sides looking to end poor runs and pick up three points that could push them up their respective conference tables. But Sporting’s backline hasn’t been reliable of late and if they are caught in transition again, it could be an end-to-end clash. For those considering a wager, our Sporting Kansas City vs Charlotte betting tips suggest focusing on both teams to score. This Sporting Kansas City vs Charlotte prediction points toward a tightly contested match where defensive lapses could determine the final outcome.