Published Feb 19, 3:53am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Feb 19, 3:53am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Feb 19, 3:53am ET
An action-packed opening weekend in the MLS to kickstart 2026 is set for Saturday and Sunday. Find the odds and our San Jose vs. Sporting KC picks here.
San Jose finished just outside of the playoffs in 2025, and a stronger challenge to finish in the top nine is expected this term.
Meanwhile, things can only improve in 2026 for Sporting KC after finishing bottom of the Western Conference standings last season.
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|
|---|---|
| San Jose | -110 |
| The Draw | +305 |
| Sporting KC | +240 |
Bruce Arena is a five-time MLS Cup champion, meaning a positive impact will be expected in his second full season with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2026.
Notable strikers such as Josef Martinez and Cristian Espinoza have departed the club, but the exciting addition of German star Timo Werner could be a game-changer. The striker enjoyed spells at some of Europe’s biggest clubs, scoring 153 goals.
There will be big pressure on Werner to hit the ground running after the departures of key stars, but their roster could ultimately be light in terms of a deep run in the playoffs.
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Last season was a huge disappointment for Sporting KC, winning just seven of their 34 games in the MLS. It has been all change at the franchise during the off-season, with Raphael Wicky appointed as the new head coach.
Dejan Joveljic will be the team’s main player once again after netting an impressive 18 goals in 2025. Sporting KC have relied on MLS experience in terms of their arrivals, with Stefan Cleveland, Calvin Harris, and Jayden Reid all ensuring that the team should have greater depth across the field.
Nemanja Radoja’s departure will leave a massive void in the middle of the field, as the ball-winner departed in the off-season.
| TOTAL | San Jose | Sporting KC | DRAWS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | 47 | 15 | 21 | 11 |
| Goals | 123 | 58 | 65 |
San Jose have allowed a number of key players to depart in order to sign Werner. However, that could leave the team light in key areas of the field. Therefore, an away win could be an interesting angle. Sporting KC have won 21 of the 46 MLS encounters between the sides.
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Pick
Sporting KC
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