Argentina fans party before Algeria World Cup match
Argentina fans gather in Kansas City to gather and prepare for their first upcoming World Cup match against Algeria.
Sports Seriously
KANSAS CITY, MO — Four years ago to the day, fans jumped for joy in Kansas City’s downtown bar district. FIFA announced that the “Soccer Capital of America” would host the 2026 World Cup.
It all starts inside Arrowhead Stadium when Argentina takes on Algeria on Tuesday, June 16.
This certainly hasn’t been a smooth ride for Kansas City to become the country’s top soccer city.
“Twenty years ago there was a real question as to whether soccer at the pro level would even continue here,” MLS commissioner Don Garber told USA TODAY.
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Garber, who has been the league’s commissioner since 1999, has seen firsthand the transformation of the city’s soccer identity.
When Cliff Illig and Neal Patterson bought MLS side Sporting Kansas City from Lamar Hunt in 2006, everything started to change for the sport in Kansas City.
“They said, ‘We believed in our city and we believe in the sport of soccer,’” Garber said. “‘We want to be the guys that are going to take the torch and carry it forward.’ From that day on, this sport has continued to grow.”
Last week, Kansas City was the top television market in the country for USA’s match against Paraguay.
Argentina, England and the Netherlands are all calling Kansas City home, with Algeria’s base camp set in nearby Lawrence, Kansas. The metro area has the most amount of base camps for one singular place in the entire World Cup.
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Soccer in the middle part of the country is having a moment. Ecuador’s base camp is set in Ohio, while Nashville is hosting Japan. In these areas, MLS clubs have a strong hold, with passionate fans, clubs fighting for trophies and facilities that rival any team in the world.
“The fan bases in St. Louis, Cincinnati are admired around the world,” Garber said. “If we were to launch the league in those cities in 1996, I don’t think they would be able to succeed like they are today. They are able to capture the momentum that many markets, like Kansas City, have been able to show success.”
Success for the MLS will be on display in Argentina’s World Cup opener. The league’s most recognizable star, Lionel Messi, is set to feature. His Inter Miami teammate, Rodrigo De Paul, will also play for La Albiceleste.
Also in the group stage, Kansas City will see MLS youngster Rayan Elloumi play. The 18-year old forward for Vancouver will don the Tunisia kit as they face the Netherlands on Thursday, June 25.
In this World Cup, MLS has 45 different players in the tournament representing 17 countries. It’s the most players representing the league in history.
“MLS is a league that represents the rest of the world,” Garber said. “When I watch Argentina play, I might love the way that they play and love that they are world champions. But, Leo Messi and Rodrigo De Paul play for an MLS team in Miami and they are representing our league.”
Kansas City’s streets have flooded with Argentine and Algerian fans in the build-up to their World Cup opener. It’s easy to forget how far Kansas City has come on the world stage of soccer.
Instead of being regarded to as a flyover region, Kansas City is suddenly the world’s premier destination.
“The heart of America is here in this town,” Garber said. “Today, I think the heart of soccer is right here in Kansas City.”
Liam Keating covers the World Cup in Kansas City for USA TODAY. He also covers high school sports and Washburn University for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at LKeating@gannett.com
