Sports Illustrated Kids – September-October 2026

Summary

Sports Illustrated Kids' September/October 2026 issue, Vol. 38 No. 5, turns up the heat with a "Too Hot to Handle" theme — the Texans' defense led by Will Anderson Jr. headlines the cover, alongside a soccer rule-reform feature, USMNT defender Alex Freeman's rise, and Erling Haaland illustrations from nine different artists. The 56-page issue covers football, soccer and basketball.

The "Fixing Soccer" feature on page 14 proposes seven rule changes — replacing VAR with a challenge system, introducing an orange card for FIFA officials, and daylight offside — that would improve the game at every level. "Sterling Erlings" on page 20 hires nine artists to draw Haaland, each creating a different rough draft. The football preview on page 40 rates the hottest teams with irreverent commentary. Will Anderson Jr. and the Texans' defense are profiled on page 34 as climbing the "Scoville Scale" of NFL defenses. Alex Freeman's profile on page 48 tracks the USMNT defender's breakthrough. The "Best Comebacks" feature on page 22 rounds up buzzer beaters, miracle rallies and zero-hour surges. Sports Cards section covers 10 athletes including Jordan Staal, Kylian Mbappe (World Cup Golden Boot with 10 goals), Jonquel Jones, and Daniel Jackson — the SEC triple crown winner drafted by the Rockies.

—————

Content Guide

▸ Features

p.14 · Fixing Soccer
Seven rule changes that would improve the game: replace VAR with coach challenges, add an orange card, and adopt daylight offside. Radical but argued in kid-friendly logic.

p.20 · Sterling Erlings
Nine artists draw Erling Haaland from the same reference photo. The rough drafts and final versions reveal how different creative eyes see the same player.

p.34 · Texans' Defense
Will Anderson Jr. leads a defense climbing the "Scoville Scale" of NFL units. Stats, personalities and why Houston's pass rush is the league's hottest ticket.

p.40 · Football Preview
Hottest teams and scalding takes. The season preview that does not take itself seriously enough to bore a young reader.

p.48 · Alex Freeman
USMNT defender on the rise after his header goal against Australia helped the Yanks win their World Cup group for the first time since 2010.

▸ Departments

p.2 · Freeze Frame
Monster Crash: Boston's Jarren Duran battled the 37-foot Green Monster at Fenway on July 19 — the Red Sox won 6-1. What Goes Up: Tadej Pogacar won his fifth Tour de France at age 27, in just under 74 hours over 2,063.4 miles.

p.7 · Sports Cards
Ten cards including Jordan Staal (Conn Smythe winner), Kylian Mbappe (10 World Cup goals, second consecutive Golden Boot), and Daniel Jackson (SEC Triple Crown).

p.9 · Hot Take
Kip Shoremore argues hot takes are ruining sports. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's foul-baiting starts the argument.

—————

Editor's Take

SI Kids continues to do something no other children's sports magazine attempts: treat young readers as intelligent fans who can handle real debate. The "Fixing Soccer" feature is genuinely radical — proposing rule changes most adult publications would not touch — and "Sterling Erlings" is genuinely clever in its nine-artist concept. The Hot Take column by Kip Shoremore is a welcome addition to the children's category, teaching argument literacy through sports. The Sports Cards section remains the most collectible feature in the issue. The weakness is the "Too Hot to Handle" theme, which is inconsistently applied — some features lean into the heat metaphor, others ignore it entirely. Best for: any kid aged 8-14 who can already name every NFL starting quarterback and wants a magazine that treats that knowledge with respect.

Strengths
• "Fixing Soccer" features genuinely creative rule reform
• "Sterling Erlings" is a clever multi-artist concept
• Hot Take column teaches argument skills

Weaknesses
• "Too Hot to Handle" theme is inconsistently executed
• Some features lack the irreverence the cover promises

Verdict: Recommended — No other magazine treats young sports fans with this much intellectual respect.