By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The struggles of Sporting Kansas City over the past few seasons have reached a boiling point with some of the largest fan groups of the Major League Soccer club.
Both Sporting KC fan groups, the KC Cauldron and the South Stand Supporters Club, have called for the resignation of head coach Peter Vermes.
Sporting KC is currently last in the Western Conference, sitting at 0-5-1 after losing 2-1 to FC Dallas on Saturday. This slow start comes after a 2024 season where they finished 8-19-7 and finished second to last in the conference. They have finished below .500 over the past three seasons.
Following the loss on Saturday, the two fan groups released the following statement on social media:
Peter Vermes & Sporting Kansas City Ownership,
“As the official supporters’ groups of Sporting Kansas City, the KC Cauldron and South Stand Supporters Club write to you today with urgency and frustration. We are at a breaking point-one that demands decisive action to protect the legacy, culture, and future of our beloved club.
For over two decades, Peter Vermes has been a defining figure in Kansas City soccer, from his time as a player with the Wizards to his transformation of Sporting KC into an MLS powerhouse. The championship victories, the commitment to a strong defensive identity, and the winning culture he once cultivated will always be respected. However, history and loyalty cannot be shields against accountability. The trajectory of this club on the field has become unacceptable, and we can no longer stand by while mediocrity overshadows our once-proud legacy.
Year after year, we have watched as this team has stagnated, its ambitions dwindled, and its results declined. Fans have been expected to tolerate repeated disappointment with no meaningful change in approach. The lack of urgency, lack of adaptation, and lack of accountability have been glaring. This is not about a single bad season-it is about a pattern of failure that has been allowed to persist without consequence.
We, as supporters, are the backbone of this club. We show up, we sing, we travel, we pour our time, money, and hearts into this team because we believe in what it should stand for. But belief alone does not win matches, and unwavering support does not excuse repeated underperformance. The Sporting KC standard has been abandoned, and we will not sit idly by while this club fades into irrelevance.
We cannot and will not accept this level of mediocrity. The hard truth is this: for Sporting KC to reclaim its rightful place as a dominant force in MLS, a change in leadership is necessary. Peter Vermes must resign as manager. This is not a request-it is a demand from a fanbase that refuses to watch its club wither under outdated tactics and unchallenged authority. His tenure has run its course, and a fresh vision is required to lead Sporting KC into the future.
To the ownership group: The responsibility to act falls on you. You must decide whether Sporting KC remains content with being a relic of past success or whether it fights to become a dominant force once again. The time for loyalty-based decisions has passed. We demand accountability. We demand ambition. We demand change. Peter, we acknowledge your contributions to club and the Kansas City community, but Sporting KC is bigger than any one person. The club’s future must take precedence over past achievements. A fresh vision is required to carry this team forward. It is time to make the decision that serves the club’s best interests, rather than personal ones.
We stand behind Sporting KC, not just in words, but in action. We will continue to support this team, but we will not remain silent when the legacy we love is at risk.
Sincerely,
The KC Cauldron & South Stand Supporters Club“
Vermes has been the head coach for Sporting KC since 2009 and is the longest-tenured coach in the MLS. He played with the franchise from 2000 to 2002. He is also third all-time in regular-season wins. Vermes signed a five-year extension with Sporting in 2023 through the 2028 season.
During his time in KC, he has won four major trophies. He won the 2013 MLS Cup and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles in 2012, 2015 and 2017. He is the only person to win an MLS Cup as a player and coach with the same team.
With the team’s struggles, fans’ frustrations have continued to build as they look to Vermes to step down. It will be intriguing to see if Sporting can turn things around or if the organization follows through on the demand from the core fanbase.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.