Team owners: Soccer's future in KC "extremely bright"
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KC's heart shining at Fan Fest. Photo: Travis Meier/Axios
Chiefs and Sporting KC owners gathered in the Plaza on Friday to talk about how hosting the World Cup will affect Kansas City in the future.
Why it matters: The city's role in the tournament is over, but organizers say KC will continue feeling the effects of a job well done years into the future.
⚽️ Cliff Illig, majority owner of Sporting KC and honorary co-chair of KC2026, said he's been involved in the effort to host the World Cup for 10 years.
- He says Kansas City has represented authenticity and hospitality, and left visitors with lasting impressions.
"I think the future of soccer in this region is extremely, extremely bright. I think what we're going to see is the World Cup is going to continue to accentuate the role soccer has not only as a sport but as a major economic factor in our region. I think we'll see a lot more kids playing the game. I think we'll see a lot more soccer events, and I think we've done a very good job of establishing on the world stage that Kansas City is a soccer destination."— Cliff Illig
🏈 Clark Hunt, CEO of the Chiefs and another KC2026 honorary co-chair, said KC's Fan Fest was one of the best in North America.
- He added that FIFA dignitaries and U.S. Soccer officials he spoke to told him there was something special about the World Cup in KC.
"For many, many years, sports fans around the world are going to know where Kansas City is, and they're going to think of it as a great place to come watch sporting events. It's something that those of us here in the city and across North America have known for a lot of years. We've hosted AFC Championship games, World Series, MLS Cups, MLB All-Star Games and many other events, but nothing compares to the World Cup."— Clark Hunt
The bottom line: "This event did a very good job of showcasing how we, at the soccer capital of America, host people," Illig said.