If you’re standing at a bar in Power & Light right now or just woke up in Overland Park wondering if there's a reason to crack a beer, you're asking the big question: is kansas city play today?
Well, the answer is a bit of a "yes and no" situation depending on which jersey you’ve got in your closet. It is Saturday, January 17, 2026, and the sports scene in KC is honestly in that weird, freezing transition phase where the grass is dormant but the action is starting to heat up in unexpected places.
The Big One: Did the Chiefs Make the Cut?
Let’s address the elephant in the room—or rather, the lack of an elephant. If you were hoping to see Patrick Mahomes slinging it at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium today, I’ve got some bad news. The Chiefs finished their 2025-2026 regular season with a 6-11 record. Yeah, it was a rough one. Their final game was a 14-12 heartbreaker against the Raiders back on January 4th.
Since they didn't make the postseason this year, there is no playoff football in Kansas City today. It’s a bitter pill to swallow for a city used to hosting the AFC Championship, but that's the reality of the 2026 gridiron.
Sporting KC: Preseason is Officially Underway
Now, for the "yes" part of the answer. If you follow the beautiful game, is kansas city play today becomes a much more exciting prospect.
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Sporting KC actually hit the pitch this morning. They kicked off their 2026 preseason camp down in Palm Beach, Florida. They had a scrimmage scheduled against Florida International University (FIU) at 9:00 a.m. CT.
- Matchup: Sporting KC vs. FIU
- Location: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
- Result: They actually pulled out a 1-0 win. Shapi Suleymanov found the back of the net in the 8th minute thanks to an assist from Dejan Joveljic.
It wasn't a full 90-minute match—just a 60-minute scrimmage to shake off the rust—but soccer is officially back in the conversation. They’ll be staying down in Florida for a bit before moving on to the Coachella Valley Invitational in February.
On the Ice: The Mavericks Are Hunting in Utah
If you’re looking for a game to watch tonight on a screen, look toward the ECHL. The Kansas City Mavericks are very much in action. They are currently out west taking on the Utah Grizzlies.
The puck drops at 7:10 p.m. MT (that's 8:10 p.m. for us back home). The Mavericks have been on an absolute tear lately, sitting at 25-7-2. Marcus Crawford is the name to watch tonight; he’s carrying a four-game point streak into this matchup. If you’ve never caught a Mavs game, honestly, you’re missing out. It’s fast, it’s physical, and they’re arguably the most successful KC team right now.
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What About the Current and the Royals?
The Kansas City Current just dropped their 2026 schedule a couple of days ago, but they aren't playing a match today. They officially started their preseason camp this past Wednesday, January 14. Right now, they’re mostly doing fitness testing and tactical drills at the University of Kansas Health System Training Center.
A few of the stars are actually missing from the KC facility today. Claire Hutton, Lo’eau LaBonta, Izzy Rodriguez, and Ally Sentnor are all heading to California for the first USWNT camp of the year, which starts today and runs through the 27th.
As for the Royals? We’re still in the "waiting for pitchers and catchers" phase. Their first Spring Training game isn't until February 20th against the Rangers.
Local Events: Volleyball and College Hoops
If you just want to see live sports and don't care about the professional level, the Kansas City Convention Center is basically the epicenter of the city today. The Heart of America Volleyball tournament is taking over the building. We’re talking about hundreds of matches from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.
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Also, if you're willing to make the short drive to Lawrence, the Jayhawks played Baylor last night, so the town is likely still buzzing, but there isn't a major home game at Allen Fieldhouse this afternoon.
Is Kansas City Play Today? The Quick Cheat Sheet
To make it easy for you to plan your Saturday night:
- Chiefs: No game. Season is over.
- Sporting KC: Played this morning (Won 1-0 vs. FIU in preseason).
- KC Mavericks: Playing tonight at 8:10 p.m. CT vs. Utah Grizzlies.
- KC Current: Training only; no game.
- Royals: No game. 34 days until Spring Training.
Your Next Steps for Today
Since the Mavericks are the only ones playing a competitive game tonight, your best bet is to find a stream or a local sports bar that carries ECHL games. Check the FloHockey app if you want to watch the Mavs take on Utah from your couch.
If you're already missing the Current, you can head over to their official site—single-match tickets for the 2026 season actually just went on sale for "Current Club" members yesterday, and the general public can grab them starting Tuesday, January 20th. It might be a good time to lock in those seats at CPKC Stadium before the spring rush.
Actionable Insight: Set a calendar reminder for February 21, 2026. That is the official "re-activation" date for KC sports, as Sporting KC opens their regular season and the Royals will be deep into their Arizona schedule. For tonight, grab a beer and root for the Mavericks to keep their streak alive in Utah.