The Sporting Kansas City–St. Louis City SC rivalry, is a soccer rivalry between the two Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs Sporting Kansas City and St. Louis City SC.
Background The cities of St. Louis and Kansas City have a longstanding rivalry, being the two major metropolitan areas in the state of Missouri. St. Louis's addition to MLS for the 2023 season created a new outlet for the inter-city rivalry.
Prior to the clubs' first meeting, Sporting Kansas City accused the Soccer Capitol Podcast, a St. Louis fan podcast, of infringing on the trademark "The Soccer Capital of America," which was registered to Kansas Training Partners LLC, an affiliate company of Sporting Kansas City.
St. Louis City won the first meeting at CityPark in May 2023, but Sporting KC won the second meeting, which took place at Children's Mercy Park the following September. The two teams played in their first postseason matchup in the 2023 MLS Cup playoffs, with Sporting Kansas City (the #8 seed) upsetting the #1 seeded St. Louis in a best-of-three series.
Supporters, players, and staff of St. Louis City SC have referenced the fact that Sporting Kansas City, despite previously claiming to represent the state of Missouri in MLS, plays in Kansas City, Kansas, often referring to the club simply as "kansas".
Names for the rivalry include:
Soccer Capital Derby - A reference to the trademark dispute between Sporting Kansas City and the Soccer Capital Podcast, as well as both franchise's claim to their home city being "The Soccer Capital of America". I-70 Derby - A reference to the I-70 Series of Major League Baseball, and the Interstate highway connecting the two cities. The Darbecue - A reference to the barbecue cultures of both St. Louis and Kansas City. Heartland Derby Cease & Desist Derby - Another reference to the trademark dispute.
Results Summary
Competition Matches SKC wins Draws STL wins SKC goals STL goals MLS regular season 10 2 4 4 15 22 MLS Cup playoffs 2 2 0 0 6 2 Total 12 4 4 4 21 24
Matches SeasonDateCompetitionStadiumHome teamResultAway teamAttendanceSeriesRef2023 May 20 MLS CityPark St. Louis City SC 4–0 Sporting Kansas City 22,423 STL 1–0–0 September 2 Children's Mercy Park Sporting Kansas City 2–1 St. Louis City SC 21,650 Tied 1–1–0 September 30 CityPark St. Louis City SC 4–1 Sporting Kansas City 22,423 STL 2–1–0 October 30 MLS Cup playoffs CityPark St. Louis City SC 4–1 Sporting Kansas City 22,423 Tied 2–2–0 November 5 Children's Mercy Park Sporting Kansas City 2–1 St. Louis City SC 21,650 SKC 3–2–0 2024April 20 MLS Children's Mercy Park Sporting Kansas City 3–3 St. Louis City SC 21,650 SKC 3–2–1 July 20Children's Mercy ParkSporting Kansas City1–1St. Louis City SC19,876 SKC 3–2–2September 28CityParkSt. Louis City SC3–1Sporting Kansas City22,423 Tied 3–3–2 2025 April 5 MLS Children's Mercy Park Sporting Kansas City 2–0 St. Louis City SC 18,116 SKC 4–3–2May 14 Energizer Park St. Louis City SC 2–2 Sporting Kansas City 22,423 SKC 4–3–32026 July 16 MLS Energizer Park St. Louis City SC 3–2 Sporting Kansas City 22,423 Tied 4–4–3 August 19 Sporting Park Sporting Kansas City 1–1 St. Louis City SC 15,355 Tied 4–4–4
Western Conference standings finishes Teams above red line qualified for the MLS Cup playoffs.
P. 2023202420251123456788910111212131313141515 • Total: STL with 3 higher finishes, SKC with 0.
Top goalscorers
RankNationPlayerTeamGoals1Dejan JoveljićSporting Kansas City42João KlaussSt. Louis City SC3Eduard LöwenSt. Louis City SCCélio PompeuSt. Louis City SCAlan PulidoSporting Kansas City6Samuel AdeniranSt. Louis City SC2William AgadaSporting Kansas CityLogan NdenbeSporting Kansas CityDániel SallóiSporting Kansas CityCedric TeuchertSt. Louis City SCIndiana VassilevSt. Louis City SC
References