Stories From the Cities: Kansas City | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Watch on TVJ | Stream on 1SPOTMEDIA

Welcome to Kansas City, located near the geographical center of the United States. You can reach here by air, road, river, or rail. And we're here to find out more. We're taking a tour across Canada, Mexico, and the United States visiting each of the 16 host cities that will welcome the FIFA World Cup 2026. Taking in the people, places, culture, and vibes.

This is Stories from the Cities.

Before we hit the streets, here's what you need to know about Kansas City. Located in the American Midwest, it spans the state border of Kansas and Missouri. It's famous worldwide as the birthplace of jazz musician Charlie Parker and barbecue culture. But there's a lot more to Kansas City, not least the passionate support for its local sports teams. It's also known as the Jazz and Blues Vegas, with the Soccer Capital of the World.

With architecture that nods to its Spanish sister city, Seville, yet some call it the City of Fountains. But you can call it KC.

Our guide to Kansas City is sports entertainment reporter Jillian Carroll. Jillian, we're here at Kansas City Stadium where the World Cup matches will take place here. What usually happens at this massive stadium? So, typically, this stadium is just full of red and gold. KC Stadium is home to the NFL superstars, the Kansas City Chiefs. Greats like Patrick Mahomes grace the field, and the success has been wonderful. We are the loudest stadium in the world, officially, and I can attest. I was a cheerleader for 6 years, so I was down on the sideline, and I tell you what, the Chiefs Kingdom and these fans are electric every game day. Okay, so that's the American football side, but what about the other football, the soccer scene? What does it look like here in Kansas City? The soccer scene in KC is vibrant, and it's growing. One of the founding teams of MLS was actually here in Kansas City, the Wizards. I used to come to matches here with my father, and now we have world-class facilities across the city for Sporting Kansas City, for the KC Current. It is amazing to watch the culture just spread throughout the city, and we just hope that continues.

I'm Clark Hunt, I'm chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs. When Major League Soccer started, our family ran the MLS team that was based here. It was called the Kansas City Wizards. It's now Sporting Kansas City.

My dad, he's been recognized through the National Soccer Hall of Fame as one of the key builders of the sport here. He came to love the sport through attending World Cups, and he thought maybe we could bring the sport to the United States, and so he joined the North American Soccer League, helped found it in the late '60s. And then, following the 1994 World Cup in the United States, Uh my dad was very excited to be able to join Major League Soccer, uh be one of the founders uh of that league. I have no doubt that the sport of soccer would not be what it is today without my father. I wouldn't be sitting here right now if it wasn't for Lamar Hunt. He was a pioneer. I'm Matt Besler, former US men's national team in 2014 World Cup veteran. I hear 17 years old, just a kid.

This is a special place for me. This is where I attended high school. It was an important place in my development uh both as a person, but also as a soccer player. We had really good athletes. Mine's right here. I grew up in Kansas City. I've lived here my entire life. I played for Sporting Kansas City. I played 12 seasons for them. Uh and also represented the US men's national team. I've got so many memories on this field. Just so many days spent out here trying to get better, practicing with the team, having fun.

Goal! The USA go two ahead. Looking back, the World Cup coming to the US in 1994 was was a big moment. I was 7 years old at the time, and if you were to tell me that I was going to be representing my country 20 years later in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, I I I would not have believed you. There's something powerful that happens when you represent your country. And there's no greater example of doing that than the World Cup. World Cup opening ceremony. It's been too long. 1994 was a long time ago. I know the passion that Kansas Citians have for the sport of soccer. They're going to absolutely be thrilled to get to be one of the host cities. There's been a nickname that's been given to Kansas City and and that is the soccer capital of America. And I think it's well deserved. We want to make sure that we do our best and showcase what the city's all about. And I think we have a tremendous opportunity ahead of us.

It's a privilege to get to host the biggest sporting event in the world. And as a family, we're absolutely thrilled that there're going to be games here in Kansas City. It's a prideful moment for us just to uh to actually get the World Cup coming here says a lot about us as a city. It was something my father wanted. To get to host the World Cup is a dream come true for our family.

Jillian, what a beautiful view of your city. When you look out at it, what does it make you feel? I love this view. It just evokes so much pride and so much appreciation because this city truly does embrace the beautiful game. A huge passion of mine, soccer has brought some of the most incredible people into my life. I've been able to be coached by some of the best role models and the game has taken me across the world, but some of my fondest memories are right here downtown watching the beautiful game with other Kansas Citians that love the game the way I do. It's just been such an incredible time here as the city continues to grow their love for the game. I feel like that's something that so many people have in common, myself included. My life partner I found via soccer, my best friends, my mentors, all around this beautiful game. Yeah, the best people come into your life when you play this sport. And it's not only the people, it's those relationships that you keep for the rest of your life. You might have been teammates for a few years, but you're friends forever. And there's so many intangible lessons. The game is so impactful. Absolutely. Just to see the positive impact that it can have on people's lives is so beautiful.

My name is Maria Brighenti, executive director founder of Global FC, a non-profit organization based in Kansas City. Our mission and our vision has always been to support underserved kids through the vehicle of soccer. Walk with them through mentorship and providing opportunities for them to become thriving members of society. We know that transportation for underserved kids is one of the biggest barriers for them to get opportunities.

We actually go to the homes, pick up these kids, and get them to our programming. Global FC is not football club, it's football community. We're seeing the community in action.

Sporting Kansas City are gearing up for their next big showdown. After a hard-fought performance last week, they're looking to bring that same energy back. We're in the historic in Northeast Kansas City community. This is where a lot of most of the refugee immigrant population gets resettled once they land in Kansas City through the resettlement program.

Good to see you. Hi, how's it going? I know, how's everything? It's a mosaic of cultures and religions and and people from all over the world that have come here and made Kansas City their home. This is still a very underserved community. So, as the kids are coming here, they're still facing, you know, issues of violence, shortages of resources, and their parents are struggling to just adapt. These kids come from all over the world and soccer is not just a sport, it's part of their cultural identity. Global on me, global on three. One, two, three, global on three.

My story resembles very much the kids in my program. I tell people I was born in displacement. My family is from Afghanistan and during the Soviet invasion, my family fled. So, I was actually born in Iran. From there, our family's journey took us to India and eventually through the asylum program to Toronto, Canada. And then 11 years ago, here at the heart of America in Kansas City, uh where the vision for Global FC came for me. I wanted to find something that was meaningful that would connect. Connect knew that soccer is a universal language. And for these kids coming, it would be a great way to engage, to interact, and come into proximity with them. You guys are old enough. You guys can do it quicker than that. Come on, man. It's just that one step. Come on. Dude, don't jump. You're stepping in. You're stepping in. MCC's extremely special. Come Come on. Come on. A kid that came into this country, barely spoke English, come into our program, and graduated out our program, and still comes back in as a source of mentorship. It's been so proud for me to be able to see the full circle. Come on, guys. Come on. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. As having Global FC, it's a blessing. It was my first home. And giving back, it feels like it's the right thing. It's the only right thing after you after they have given so much to you, you want to give back.

Being able to be outside your home, being with the community that loves you, and being with the community that's empowering you to become a better person, it's something that most kids do not get the opportunity to do here in Kansas City. I grew up in Tanzania, Nyarugusu camp. And living in the camp, I could never dream of being in the city where the World Cup was going to be hosted at. It's such It feels like a blessing, you know?

With Global FC, we all benefit. The American society benefits cuz we get to unleash these amazing, resilient children who are far more supported and empowered to go out there and build a beautiful life and contribute to this country.

Jillian, at this point, we've been making our way around town, and everywhere you look, including here in the streetcar, there are references to the local NWSL team. Yeah, you can't get too far in Kansas City without seeing Kansas City Current, and that's because this team is so special. They're amazing people, but on the pitch, they put on a show. They're constantly at the top of the table in NWSL with record-setting season after season, international superstars like Debinha and Lo'eau LaBonta. And with all that success, it feels like the local community is so proud of this city. Yeah, you nailed it right on the head. Kansas City's so proud of the Kansas City Current for who they are and what they represent. They are trailblazing through the women's sports space, and they represent Kansas Citians. We're gritty, and we're hardworking people, and just like the Current, we're humble, but we're hungry, and we're in relentless pursuit of greatness.

My name is Chris Long, and I'm so pleased today to give you a tour personally of CPKC Stadium. I am the co-owner and founder of the Kansas City Current, and I'm delighted to show you our building. We don't often share the home locker room. Come on in. Everything is designed to be this feeling of ownership. And when you think about women's sports, often when they go play at a stadium, they go to the second locker room, the third locker room. Not in CPKC Stadium, not here. We're so blessed to have incredible athletes in Kansas Current. You've probably noticed we've already won the shield, we've set numerous records this season. Our captain is a big piece of that. She's a heartbeat for our team. She's been with us all five seasons here in Kansas City. That's Lo LaBonta, number 10. She really leads with example, beloved by her teammates. I obviously a lot of people know her as the queen of Giselle Lee because she is the celebratory person on our team that drives that celebration, that excitement. There's days I'm in awe of the power and the grace and the strength of these athletes and what they do on the pitch. I've played here now with this club five years. I'm the longest tenured player of Kansas City and I've just grown to love the people here, the city and especially the sports. We're building something special here. We've built the first stadium for women. We have our own training facility and we've also built a very dynamic team on the field. So we're delivering that product as well.

And we also have the 12th man, which is all of our fans. We have an atmosphere like no other in the league. We're loud, we're proud, it's teal everywhere. As the visiting team, you might be a little scared to play here because we're on the front foot always. LaBonta on the attack.

Here we are. You're about to walk onto the pitch in one of the greatest stadiums in the world. We really believe that this club is a tool to represent the best of women's sports. So what is the world of possible? What is that potential that women's sports has? And really this team is a vehicle to illustrate that. Investing in community, investing in players and staff and then lastly, raising the bar by investing in beautiful facilities like this. We're right off the Missouri River. That's the Kit Bond Bridge, our most traveled bridge in Kansas City. This is an iconic location right off downtown Kansas City. They had a vision and they've definitely delivered. And not only have they delivered on that, they've set the bar for the rest of the league. It's really difficult to beat what we put together here. When Kansas City got announced as a host city for the World Cup, I screamed. I never thought I would be able to be in a city where there would be a World Cup game. So, I'm beyond excited to see what it will look like for the World Cup.

Welcome to Gates, Jenny. Okay, so what would you like to order? Slab of ribs, chicken? I know I definitely want some jalapeno jalapenos. Okay, I love that you love that. Julian, when people talk about Kansas City, they always mention the barbecue here. What is so unique about it? Yeah, it's just so world famous because there's so much of it here in Kansas City. We have over 100 different spots to try. And if you come here, you absolutely have to try it one of them. Okay, so if you come here, you have to try the barbecue. But what else should people know about this place? That there's just such rich culture in Kansas City. It's truly the melting pot of the Midwest. For years, people have been coming to Kansas City, whether it be for work or just to travel, but when they get here, they tend to want to stay. My family, for example, we were transferred, my father's job brought us to Kansas City, and we ended up staying. And I'm so proud to be a transplant that became a local and that became a Kansas Cityan. And that truly is a great representation of who we are as a community. Food can bring people together, culture, and a lot of times in Kansas City it is the game of soccer.

My name is Nick Tomasic. My Croatian name is Nikola Tomišić. My name is Goran Đorđević. I came to States in 1998. This is Strawberry Hill in Kansas. Strawberry Hill is where all the Croatians came after the First World War, after the Second World War. The packing houses that are not far from here, just down the hill, they needed workers. So, they were advertising in Europe. And during this Austro-Hungarian Empire, there was a lot of hardships, so people were looking for a better life, and my grandfather, he came over on a boat when he was 14 by himself. He didn't speak English, didn't know anyone. This is where he settled in order to get the work. They built their community and started with the church. We have a 125 years so far church that is standing there that Croatian built. Community was very important, and family, and people had to stick together. A lot of them didn't speak English, and so they asked if they could form this men's club. They had boxing and fitness and stuff like that. And then bowling lanes came in later.

Then the soccer watch party started uh in the late '90s, early 2000s. I love being with these people. It's my love for my country that brings me here. There is a saying in Croatia Najbitnija sporedna stvar na svijetu, which means Faith and family are number one. After that, it's the Croatian national football team. Definitely. Soccer is in the blood. Duka! No one ever heard of Croatia before. But after Croatia gained its independence and after 1998, when they took third in the World Cup But especially after 2018 And Croatia, for the first time ever, will play in a World Cup final. That was when everyone knew where Croatia was at. Came down for Vida. And then Perišić scores!

The birth of my children by far the greatest thing ever and a very close second was that 1 month in 2018. Nobody believed that that could happen here, especially we're such a small country. They kept surprising us and kept surprising us. Literally, we're a quarter size of state of Kansas and we're small country, but we have big heart. There was so much to celebrate regardless of the outcome of the match. Well, of course we would have preferred to win, but um we also celebrated all day long.

Isn't that great that all the nations uh have this uh World Cup where we share the love what put us together.

The level of excitement for the World Cup for a couple of years now has been off the charts. I don't know if they quite understand what's coming.

Soccer definitely is something like music. Soccer puts people together. Everybody is together, you know. I'm getting goosebumps just saying that. I think it's going to be something that people will remember for the rest of their lives.

Thank you, Kansas City, for the wonderful welcome and Jillian for being a brilliant host. That's it for Stories from the Cities here in Kansas City. We'll be in another one of the 16 host cities of the FIFA World Cup 26 soon. Stay with us for the rest of the journey.