Can Emir Karic help fix Sporting Kansas City's biggest problem: Leaking goals?
Sporting KC finally land an experienced left-back as David Lee continues his summer rebuild
Sporting Kansas City last played an MLS match on May 24. That was 33 days ago as of this writing. Since then, I’ve largely forgotten about the team, its poor return of 11 points from 14 games, 36 goals conceded, and just 14 goals scored. I’d also largely forgotten about Sporting Kansas City sitting bottom of the MLS Western Conference.
The World Cup break imposed by MLS has likely made others forget just how poor Sporting Kansas City were during the opening stage of the 2026 campaign. There are still 20 days left until Sporting Kansas City takes to the pitch once more in MLS play.
The team’s return fixture against St. Louis City will be a midweek showdown against a direct rival near the bottom of the Western Conference. Three points could go a long way towards helping Sporting begin to climb the standings.
General manager David Lee previously spoke about making a number of signings this summer. It was indicated that he wanted to make up to seven additions to increase the quality of the squad and create competition for places.
As I’ve always said, it’s going to be difficult to convince players from abroad to join the club. Not only are Sporting bottom of the Western Conference right now, but they also finished last in the West a season ago. Trying to persuade a player who has experienced life in a promotion-and-relegation environment to sign for a club that has finished bottom in consecutive seasons isn’t going to be easy even without promotion and relegation in MLS.
At least one source has already suggested there is a divide in Sporting Kansas City’s current recruitment model. Lee has his way of doing things. He looks for quality players who fit a certain structure and fall within the financial parameters the club is willing to work with. Lee also appears happy to play the long game, gradually improving the squad over time. There’s no promotion and relegation, so there are no consequences, except for completely losing your fanbase.
Meanwhile, new majority owner Peter Mallouk wants players who can improve the team immediately. Mallouk has seen the bad press surrounding the club. He’s read the comments on social media. He’s commented back about fixing the team. He knows people aren’t coming to games.
Let’s be frank, those crowds are likely to get even worse in the second half of the season after World Cup fatigue sets in. I don’t think the World Cup will create hungry soccer fans ready to watch one of the worst teams in MLS. Hell, the NFL preseason will start soon.
Mallouk wants a reaction and wants things fixed immediately. At the end of the day, however, that isn’t how you build a winning football team. But time isn’t on Sporting’s side, and it hasn’t been for a long time.
Lee spent the offseason trying to sign a left-back capable of stepping straight into the starting XI. The club thought it had landed Peruvian defender Cesar Inga, only for Inga to back out at the last minute.
Jayden Reid was then signed after a successful trial and was expected to provide cover for Zorhan Bassong. However, Bassong has missed much of the season due to a reoccurring hamstring injury. Since returning, Bassong has actually looked better suited to Sporting Kansas City’s midfield.
Still needing a left-back, Lee has finally delivered this month by agreeing a deal for Bosnian Emir Karic. The defender arrives from Austrian side Sturm Graz. With just one season remaining on his contract, Sporting Kansas City were able to secure the 29-year-old, who brings experience from both the Austrian Bundesliga and the German Bundesliga.
There is currently no information regarding how much Sporting Kansas City paid in transfer fees for Karic. According to Transfermarkt, however, the defender is valued at around $2 million.
What is Sporting Kansas City getting in Karic?
For starters, Sporting are getting a left-back with significant European experience. He is someone who has faced quality opposition in both Germany and Austria. During the 2025-26 campaign, Karic made 44 appearances in all competitions for Sturm Graz, including matches in the Champions League qualifying rounds and the Europa League. Across those appearances, he recorded five assists.
One Sporting Kansas City supporter commented on social media that Karic is unlikely to score many goals based on his career record of just seven. My response to that is simple: no shit. He’s a defender first and foremost. His primary responsibility is stopping goals and perhaps creating one or two. Scoring them is Dejan Joveljic’s job.
Stopping goals is something Sporting Kansas City desperately need. Only Orlando City have conceded more goals in MLS this season with 44. Sporting’s defence was dreadful a season ago as well, shipping 70 goals on the way to finishing bottom of the Western Conference. As things stand, Sporting Kansas City are on course to concede 87 goals in 2026.
The defensive rebuild attempted during the offseason, which included signing three defenders following successful trials, hasn’t entirely worked. To be fair, the midfield has been a mess for large portions of the season as well.
Injuries certainly haven’t helped a club operating with the smallest squad in MLS. Before the arrival of Karic, Sporting had just 24 players under contract, four of whom were goalkeepers. That left the club with only 20 outfield players.
The signing of Diego Borges has not worked either. Hungarian side Zalaegerszeg pulled the wool over Lee’s eyes, but that is what can happen when you sign a raw defender who had made just six appearances for his previous club. Israeli centre-back Or Blorian is also set to arrive in July thanks to signing a pre-contract earlier in the year. Like Karic, Blorian should bring something Sporting Kansas City have lacked for some time: experience from abroad.
Karic is an upgrade at left-back. He is an experienced player who should provide competition for Reid. His signing not only strengthens a weak area of the squad, but could also help Reid improve through genuine competition for minutes.
Is Karic a WOW signing that will suddenly bring fans flooding into Sporting Park for the second half of the season? No. Is he a signing that should improve Sporting Kansas City defensively? Yes, or at least he ought to.
Karic is not a long-term solution. He is already 29 years old and has signed a two-year contract with an option for a third season. What he does provide Raphael Wicky is another quality player in a squad that desperately needs them. Because everyone knows Sporting Kansas City do not simply lack numbers. The club lacks quality, and that is a much bigger problem to solve.
What do you think of Sporting Kansas City siging Emir Karic?
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