Chicago Fire v Sporting Kansas City: Wicky confident in turning around struggling campaign

Raphael Wicky admits Sporting Kansas City’s season is not going to plan, but he remains optimistic of building a future-fit team ahead of Sunday’s MLS visit to the Chicago Fire.

Sporting Kansas have lost their last four league matches after last week’s 3-0 hammering at Vancouver Whitecaps.

They have shipped 13 goals across that period, while only scoring three times, and sit bottom of the Western Conference table with just four points to their name from eight games.

But head coach Wicky believes he has a squad capable of improving, as he called for time to deliver and work with his young players.

“Obviously, I’m not happy with how the season is going, of course not,” he said after the Whitecaps reverse.

“But it’s a new team, a very young team that will take a while to come together – that’s no excuses though.

“We’re a team that has to find themselves and grow together, I believe 100% we will get to where we want and go in the right direction.

“We have a team that tries to play, who has character and personality, now there’s a lot to do better but I’d rather have this team showing up than being scared.”

Sporting failed to manage a shot on target all game in Vancouver, doing so for the first time since the end of May last year against LA Galaxy.

However, Wicky reiterated his belief in the group.

“It’s tough mentally but I didn’t see a team giving up, who kept working, and who will continue to do so,” he added.

Final. pic.twitter.com/WFCpeyIXSb

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) April 18, 2026

“The team will keep going out there and fighting, we looked good in parts [against Vancouver] and had some chances.

“No one likes to lose, I’m the first one and the players as well, but I try to look at it differently. I’ve told the team we can build on this.”

The Fire are fourth in the Eastern Conference after a 3-3 draw with FC Cincinnati last time out.

They had won three straight MLS games before the six-goal thriller on the road, and a win here could see them leapfrog New England Revolution, who have a tough trip to Inter Miami to contend with.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chicago Fire – Hugo Cuyper

Hugo Cuypers’ first goal against FC Cincinnati was his fifth goal in his fifth start of the season.

That tied the Fire record for most consecutive games with a goal, set by David Accam and Robert Beric, but Cuyper’s added another soon after to make it six for the season – the most of any Chicago player.

Sporting Kansas City – Dejan Joveljic

Dejan Joveljic has been a rare bright spark in a torrid season.

He has the most goals for Sporting in MLS action this year (four) and is tied with three players for the most assists (two).

MATCH PREDICTION – CHICAGO FIRE WIN

It is hard to see how Sporting stop the rot in Chicago.

They have lost each of their last five matches across all competitions by multiple goals.

That makes it the first time in club history that Sporting Kansas have lost five consecutive matches by two or more goals.

In fact, Sporting have conceded multiple times in six of their eight regular-season matches this season, surrendering 20 goals during that span. That is tied for the most goals the team have conceded through their first eight games of a season, also allowing 20 in the inaugural MLS season of 1996.

And the Fire will be expecting further joy here. Chicago have won their last two regular-season meetings with Sporting Kansas after recording just one win in their previous 10 games (D2 L7).

The Fire last won three straight MLS matches against Sporting between July 2006 and April 2007, but that appears likely to change this time.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Chicago Fire – 68.7%

Draw – 17.5%

Sporting Kansas City win – 13.9%