Punching above its weight: World Cup’s smallest host city – Kansas City – celebrates successful run 

Kansas City hosted its last World Cup 2026 match on Saturday, and visitors from around the world along with American media are celebrating the city’s success as a host.

Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 in extra time at Kansas City Stadium – Arrowhead’s name during the tournament. The Sky Blues also won their first game against Algeria there, kicking off the soccer tournament in the heart of the Midwest.

Argentina faces England, another Kansas City-based team, in the semifinals Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Atlanta.

Prior to the Argentina-Switzerland match, Swiss visitors raved about Kansas City.

“In Europe we heard so many bad news about the United States – about Trump, about ICE – but we can meet a lot of friendly people,” one Swiss visitor said in a video posted by Mark Poulose of KCTV 5. “Everything is together, and our boys can take pictures with the cops. They are all friendly. 

“You did a great job, it’s really a cool thing to be here.”

Another fan was surprised at the “awesome” people he found in the Heartland.

“The people here are awesome,” he said. “I never thought about it – the middle of nowhere, the middle of America. Love it.”

Mainstream media have celebrated Kansas City’s run as a World Cup host. The New York Times published an article over the weekend titled, “Kansas City, the Smallest World Cup Host, Has the World at Its Feet.”  

“Over the past month, the world’s soccer fans have taken to Kansas City, the smallest American host of these World Cup games, succumbing to the charms of its Midwesterners, its artisan barbecue and its long, but largely overlooked, history with the ‘beautiful game,’” the article reads.

The smallest host city – Seattle, the next smallest, is nearly twice as large – has not only stolen the hearts of its visitors but has also taken first place in multiple World Cup rankings, including highest percentage of people watching matches on FOX Sports and the biggest spending surges.

The City of Fountains also gained attention last week for ranking as the top U.S. host city for dating and romance among fans.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who has become known for wholeheartedly joining in on each visiting country’s celebrations, posted a heartfelt recap video of the World Cup on X.

“The friendships made and cultures shared here will last for years to come,” he writes in the post. “Kansas City is a big-league city and we’re happy the world was able to see.”

“The world isn’t done talking about Kansas City,” he wrote in another X post.

(Featured image: Mayor Quinton Lucas and Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer of Argentine Football Association Leandro Petersen/X/ @AFA_Pakistan)