KCSN Weekly: Argentina Wins Final Match at Arrowhead, Punches Its World Cup Final Ticket, Royals Allstars Aid Defeat of NL
A weekly look at everything happening across Kansas City sports.
We are 12 days away from Chiefs training camp, the Royals were on the All-Star break for much of the week, and the World Cup is down to its final two. It was a quieter week in Kansas City sports, but there is still plenty to get into.
Royals Report: A Rough First Half Ends With a Whimper, All-Star Game Provides Bright Spot
The Royals were swept into the All-Star break by the Baltimore Orioles, capping the first half of the season with a five-game losing streak. Kansas City now sits at 38-59, tied for the worst record in the American League with just over two weeks until the trade deadline. At this point, the conversation around this roster should be shifting entirely toward what J.J. Picollo can do to replenish the farm between now and the deadline.
The All-Star Game itself was a bright spot for a couple of Royals. Bobby Witt Jr. scored a run after drawing a walk, and Michael Wacha tossed one inning and struck out two batters as the American League blanked the National League 4-0.
Speaking of replenishing the farm, Picollo made the most of the 2026 MLB Draft. With the sixth overall pick, Kansas City selected Louisville outfielder Zion Rose, a two-time first-team All-ACC selection and this year’s All-American who slashed .417/.491/.646 with 47 RBI and 24 stolen bases. It is a polished college bat with a high floor.
The next four picks rounded out a solid class, with right-hander Taylor Rabe out of Ole Miss in the first round and Jack Slightom out of Lyons Township High School in Illinois in the second, left-hander Maxx Yehl from West Virginia in the third, and outfielder Dominic Battista from Oswego East High School in Illinois in the fourth.
The Royals open the second half at home against the San Diego Padres before hosting the San Francisco Giants to close out the week.
World Cup: Argentina Is Going to the Final, and Kansas City Played a Role
The last World Cup match at Arrowhead Stadium delivered exactly the kind of night the city deserved.
Argentina survived a tense quarterfinal against Switzerland, winning 3-1 in extra time after a match that turned out to be one of the best of the tournament. Alexis Mac Allister broke the tie in the 10th minute, heading home a Lionel Messi corner kick to give Argentina an early lead.
Switzerland responded in the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye slipped one past Emiliano Martinez to level it at 1-1. The match changed dramatically five minutes later when Swiss forward Breel Embolo was sent off with a second yellow card for simulation, leaving Switzerland a man down for the remainder of the match.
Despite playing with 10 men, the Swiss defended heroically and forced extra time. Argentina finally broke through in the 112th minute when Julian Alvarez curled a spectacular 25-yard strike into the net, and Lautaro Martinez sealed it in stoppage time with a breakaway finish to make it 3-1. It was a fitting farewell for Arrowhead as a World Cup venue.
Argentina, a Kansas City host-site team, then traveled to Atlanta for their semifinal against England this past Wednesday, where they pulled off another comeback. Anthony Gordon put England ahead in the 54th minute, but Argentina rallied late. Enzo Fernandez equalized in the 84th minute, and Martinez struck again in the 90th to complete a 2-1 victory and book Argentina’s place in the final.
They will face Spain on Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium with the World Cup on the line. The match is slated to be an even one, with the betting lines listing Spain as underdogs at +125 to claim the title. Before the final, France and England meet in the third-place match Saturday at 4 p.m. in Miami.
SKC Scoop: Back in Action, Still Searching
Sporting Kansas City returned to MLS action this week after a seven-week World Cup break, and the rust was apparent. The club fell 3-2 to St. Louis City SC in their first match back, and sits in last place in their conference with a 3-2-9 overall record.
Capita and Dejan Jovelic each found the back of the net, equalizing the game at one and then two, but St. Louis scored a goal on a penalty kick in the 85th minute that Sporting was unable to match.
Sporting hosts Minnesota United FC on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. with an opportunity to get things going in the right direction.
What to Watch This Week
Royals (38-59)
Home vs. San Diego Padres (48-48) for three
Home vs. San Francisco Giants (41-55) for three
Sporting KC (3-9-2)
Home vs. Minnesota United FC (6-4-5): Wednesday, July 22, 7:30 p.m. CT
World Cup
Third Place: France (-110) vs. England, Saturday, 4 p.m. CT in Miami, FL
World Cup Final: Spain (+125) vs. Argentina, Sunday, July 19, 2 p.m. CT in East Rutherford, NJ