RSL Seeking to Extend Four-Game Unbeaten Run and Remain Undefeated on Utah Soil in 2026;
Limited Tickets Remain Available at www.RSL.com/tickets for April 4 Return to America First Field
HERRIMAN, Utah (Thursday, April 2, 2026) – Real Salt Lake (3-1-1, 10 points, 6th West / 8th Shield MLS) returns home this weekend, continuing its 2026 Major League Soccer campaign with a Saturday matinee against Sporting Kansas City (1-3-1, 4 points, 15th West / 25th Shield MLS) at America First Field in Sandy (2:30p MT kickoff), available on Apple TV. For just the fifth time in 22 seasons, RSL has amassed 10 points or more through its first five matches, with this year’s hot start the Club’s best since 2011.
RSL emerges from the recent FIFA international break seeking to extend its active four-game unbeaten run during the young 2026 MLS season, its trio of one-goal wins in recent weeks bolstered by late drama two weekends ago in San Diego, with FW Victor Olatunji’s 85th-minute equalizer rescuing a point for a 2-2 final in a match that also saw RSL rookie Sergi Solans score his second goal of the year.
GAME NOTES for Saturday’s RSL v Sporting KC Match Available Online
The Adobe PDF version of the 2026 RSL Game Guide in advance of Saturday’s contest between Real Salt Lake and Sporting KC can be found HERE. Media members looking to receive the document as an attachment or have further questions are asked to please contact RSL Communications via email at RSLcommunications@RSL.com.
This weekend’s RSL contest is available via Apple TV, with Christian Miles and Kacey White (ENG) on the call, as well as Raul Guzman (SPN). Long-time RSL voice David James and former MLS goalkeeper Jay Nolly will call the game for KSL Sports Radio (1160 AM / 97.5 FM), with Nelson Moran now in his 22nd RSL season as RSL’s Spanish radio voice on KBMG Latino 106.3 FM.
The hero in RSL’s last home game back on March 14 was Dutch DF Stjin Spierings, who came off the bench to provide the game-winning goal in the 88th minute – just seven minutes into his RSL career – to become the sixth debutant out of 235 in the Club’s 22-year history to score in his Claret-and-Cobalt debut, and the first to do so as a substitute. Spierings’ goal – the Matchday 4 MLS Goal of the Week winner – broke a 1-1 deadlock that had featured both goalkeepers – Rafa Cabral for RSL and Brad Stuver for Austin – trade exquisite, highlight-reel saves, with RSL rebounding from an 18th-minute set piece concession to Jon Bell to equalize when a Noel Caliskan cross in the box was deflected into Austin’s own goal.
RSL has won three of its last four overall matches against Kansas City and four of its last five on Utah soil, with the Claret-and-Cobalt unbeaten in six of its last seven against the team that denied RSL its second title in a frigid, 20-attempt shootout tiebreaker at MLS Cup 2013.
During the first five MLS matchdays of 2026, RSL has now seen eight different players make their Club debuts, with Spierings adding his name to a list that saw yet another RSL Academy product – MF Griffin Dillon appearing for the final 45 minutes of the 3-2 road win at Atlanta on March 7. Newly-acquired Designated Player Morgan Guilavogui joined Uruguayan World Cup hopeful wingback Juan Manuel Sanabria and veteran DF Lukas Engel in making their RSL debuts in the 2-1 win over Seattle on Feb. 28, with the trio of RSL Academy men MF Luca Moisa and MF Zach Booth joining rookie FW Sergi Solans in donning the Claret-and-Cobalt crest for the first time in the Feb. 21 opening-day loss at Vancouver.
At San Diego last weekend, two RSL regulars Diego Luna (knee) and Victor Olatunji (eye) came off the bench for a second consecutive match after returning from injury, while veteran DF DeAndre Yedlin – who suffered a hamstring strain back on Feb. 21 in Vancouver – is hopeful to make the 20-man gameday selection this weekend.
Sixth-year RSL Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni’s side – which defeated Seattle 2-1 on Feb. 28 in this year’s home opener – has now posted a 10-2-3 (W-L-T) home mark on the Wasatch Front since June 1, 2025 across MLS, Champions Cup and Leagues Cup matches. In 2024, RSL amassed a 12-3-4 (W-L-T) record at home, where the Club has traditionally enjoyed a fortress-like record of success, winning nearly 70% of games and averaging just under two points per game in parts of 18 seasons across all competitions in Sandy.
RSL’s ability to rebound from the Vancouver loss to the Seattle win marked yet another “bounce-back” result for its record of resilience under Mastroeni. Since the former USMNT star and MLS veteran seized the Claret-and-Cobalt head coaching reins in August, 2021, RSL has dropped consecutive games just 18 times in 188 matches during the Mastroeni era, winning 32 and drawing 16 in games following a loss.
Scoring first again on Saturday against Kansas City could be critical for RSL’s success, as the 2025 campaign saw the Utah side win just once in come-from-behind fashion (July 26 at San Jose), as it did in the March 14 win over Austin FC. RSL scored first in 23 of its 40 games last year, while posting a 12W-6L-5T when drawing first blood against its opposition.
With the San Diego draw on March 22, RSL has now recorded a 48W-10L-19T record when scoring first during the 188-game Mastroeni era, with all but one of 13 RSL victories last season coming when taking the 1-0 lead. Seven of the 10 losses under Mastroeni when taking the 1-0 lead since August, 2021, came during last year’s 2025 campaign.
With another 2026 postseason berth this November, RSL would extend its West-best active playoff streak to six consecutive seasons (Orlando enters 2026 with six straight in the East), the Claret-and-Cobalt having advanced to the postseason in seven of the last eight seasons and 15 of the last 18 years, its near-perennial placement missing out only in the 2015, 2017 and 2020 campaigns.
Mastroeni welcomes two new coaches to his bench in 2026, with third-year assistant Anthony Pulis elevated and Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Real Monarchs assistant, 2024/25; former EPL / EFL player) and Frédéric Brillant (former NYCFC player, former Utah Royals FC assistant) joining RSL. GK Coach Mirza Harambasic remains on staff along with lead Video Analyst Rob Rogers, the group looking to attain the heights of 2024, when RSL delivered its Club-best campaign of 59 points from 34 games and 65 goals scored.
