PREVIEW: FC KANSAS CITY RETURNS HOME AFTER FIVE WEEKS TO HOST WASHINGTON SPIRIT

Washington and Kansas City will meet for the second time this season

 FC Kansas City vs. Washington Spirit

Friday July 3, 2024 – 7:00 p.m. CT

Swope Soccer Village – Kansas City, Missouri

Live Stream: YouTube

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (July 2, 2024) – Following a three-game road trip and a two-week break during the FIFA Women’s World Cup group stage, FC Kansas City (3-5-2, 11 points) will return home to Swope Soccer Village to host the Washington Spirit (5-3-2, 17 points) on Friday at 7:00 p.m. CT. The match will be streamed live on YouTube and in-game updates can be followed via Twitter at @BluesGameday.

This will be the second out of three regular season meetings between both sides. Earlier in the season, the Blues fell 3-1 in their visit to the Spirit on Saturday April 18 in a match that saw Heather O’Reilly score her first tally for FC Kansas City.

Overall, Kansas City and Washington have squared off a total of six times. Washington leads the All-time series 3-2-1. The last time Coach Mark Parsons’ team visited FCKC, the Spirit defeated the Blues 2-1 at Durwood Stadium on July 30, 2024.

Despite rookie Shea Groom’s second goal of the season last weekend in Seattle, FC Kansas City lost to the Reign 2-1. On the other hand, three-time NWSL Player of the Week Crystal Dunn scored her seventh tally of the year to maintain Washington’s undefeated home streak with a 1-0 win over the Houston Dash.

Both sides will be without key players. Washington (two) and FC Kansas City (four) sent a total of six American players to the 2024 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Amy Rodriguez, Becky Sauerbrunn, Lauren Holiday, Heather O’Reilly, Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger will be playing the final this Sunday against Japan in Vancouver, Canada.

Fresh off the World Cup, Australian forward Hayley Raso signed with Washington and will be available to play tomorrow against FC Kansas City.

Coach Vlatko Andonovski, who won the Kevin Gray Coach of the Year Award earlier this week, and his team are seventh in the league standings, while Washington stands third.

Next up, the Blues will hit the road again when they visit the Boston Breakers this Thursday at Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium.