While the U.S. Men’s National Team’s campaign at the 2022 FIFA World Cup came to an end on Saturday morning with a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands in the Round of 16, their elimination wasn’t before Kansas City had once again cemented its reputation as the Soccer Capital of America.
Sporting KC hosted watch parties at the KC Live! Block in the Power & Light District for all four USMNT matches, as well as Mexico’s three group games, with huge swaths of fans filling the 10,000-capacity venue to the brim.
Images of the crowds were beamed across the globe as soccer fans worldwide got a taste of what Kansas City will bring to the table as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. No city was featured more prominently on FOX throughout the tournament, with the broadcaster cutting to show the huddling masses in KC at any opportunity.
Sporting KC greats past and present were on hand to hype up the crowds as Peter Vermes, Matt Besler, Benny Feilhaber, Graham Zusi, and Roger Espinoza all attended watch parties where the energy and enthusiasm of the fans generated a festival atmosphere.
Thousands may have been watching the USMNT matches at Power & Light, but plenty more were glued to their screens at home. Kansas City ranked in the top five television markets for three of the four U.S. matches, placing first in the nation for the group game against England, fifth when the U.S. topped Iran and fourth as Gregg Berhalter’s side was eliminated by the Netherlands.
A youthful USMNT may have bowed out of the 2022 World Cup on Saturday morning but with over 10,000 fans watching in sub-freezing temperatures from Power & Light in Kansas City, the world knows the U.S. squad will receive the support it needs when KC and the United States hosts the biggest international sporting event in 2026.
