Kansas City is having its moment

It may have been over a week already, but the whirlwind of the World Cup in our city has really only just begun. We’ve seen one game of the six total matches here, but years of hard work are coming to fruition and Kansas City is having its moment on the world’s stage.

When the bid to host the World Cup 2026 began in 2019, I’m not sure anyone could have even dreamed of the scenes Tuesday night in KC.

For a night, the Soccer Capital of America was at the center of the universe.

About 70,000 people were there to witness Lionel Messi’s hattrick. But in 10 years there will 200,000 people in Kansas City who will tell you they were there. It was truly a historic night. Not just for our city, but for Leo himself, for soccer in America, and even the World Cup itself!

The match started off with Stu Holden asking if this is, “Kansas City or Buenos Aires, Missouri?” La Albiceleste blanketed the stadium we know so well, in different colors than we’re used to. But no less beautiful. John Strong took every opportunity to praise the city and what it felt like to be there. “A wonderful soul to the stadium that you can feel,” he said.

And the world was watching.

World Cup Fever

For KC, World Cup fever has been in full swing since the arrival of the Argentina squad on May 31st. The excitement hasn’t stopped since then. The way the area has embraced the four teams calling our city home for this World Cup has been wonderful to see. Not just for Messi and the superstars of Argentina, but the absolute love story between Lawrence and Algeria is what sports are all about.

The fan rallies throughout the city have been a site to see. It’s what so many of us have been hoping for since the city was selected as a host.

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Before any matches were played, the banderazo on the plaza was already an unforgettable experience.

Credit: Mike Zing

Credit: Mike Zing

Plenty of people in Kansas City have their questions about the money spent on hosting an event like this, about FIFA, and about the day-to-day complications that come with the World Cup. Complications like gridlock getting into the match.

Feeling a certain way about all of this is more than justified. But I hope everyone is able to appreciate, if not experience it themselves, the beauty that it brings as well.

Everything we have been seeing is so immensely refreshing. The Tartan Army from Scotland, fans from Japan, Americans at home, and visitors from around the world are coming together and realizing we all have more similarities than differences.

This comes at a time when it is easy to forget that. A time when we need to be reminded of that.

A Memory for a Lifetime

Algeria vs Argentina on Tuesday night felt like a culmination of hard work for so many people in KC that made this happen. It’s true that it was. But we’re just getting started!

But what a start it was.

Patrick Mahomes was there in his home stadium because game recognizes game. Another legend, Zinedine Zidane was watching his son for Algeria and could been seen shaking his head every time Argentina drew a foul. Even Gianni Infantino was there (and maybe why it took everyone so long to get inside).

Leo Messi made his 200th appearance for Argentina. He scored his 118th, 119th, and 120th goals wearing the White & Sky Blue. At 38, he became both the youngest and the oldest goal scorer in his country’s history.

The hattrick was Leo’s first ever at a World Cup. With the third stunner, he joined Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in the Men’s World Cup with 16 goals.

Phenomenal. Legendary. Historic. There is no combination of words that have not already been said about Lionel Andres Messi.

But for anyone who watched that in person, on TV, or hunched around a phone screen, no words are necessary.

And it all happened in our hometown.

There is still so much more to come, but Kansas City is meeting the moment so far.