‘I dreaded the World Cup but am now embracing it’: how the tournament won over (most) people in host cities | World Cup 2026

‘We’ve made new friends around the globe’

While Kansas City is the smallest of the 16 host cities, it has a history of punching above its weight and – armed with our own compelling soccer history to buoy us – organisers and the community worked hard to ensure that we wowed visitors and viewers alike. Hiccups with shuttle buses and traffic at our first home match were quickly addressed…