After weeks of hosting FIFA World Cup matches, Chiefs leaders say Kansas City set out to prove it belonged on soccer's biggest stage through hard work, planning, and community spirit.

According to Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official website, the city hosted six matches, including a quarterfinal, making it the smallest North American metropolitan area to host that many games.

"When Kansas City rolls up its sleeves and gets to work, we're going to do amazing things," said Jeremy Slavens, Vice President of Arrowhead Events, per McMullen. "This is just another example of that. There were certainly doubters, but we've done it. The city got behind this, and it's showing."

Kansas City hosted four national teams, including Argentina, England, the Netherlands, and Algeria, as their training bases.

According to a Bank of America report published by Forbes, spending across the tournament's 16 host cities rose 6.3% from last year. Spending by visitors from outside those cities rose even more, increasing by 16.7%.

Those fans spent money on hotels, restaurants, transportation, and local businesses, boosting Kansas City's economy during the tournament.

"I've been with the Chiefs since 2017 – so for almost 10 seasons – and this process was already underway when I started," said Matt Kenny, Chiefs Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, per Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official website. "There has not been a time since I've been here that the opportunity to host the World Cup wasn't there."

The successful tournament has also made people think about what this could mean for Kansas City and the Chiefs in the future.

Clark Hunt believes World Cup success has changed how the world sees Kansas City

Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt believes the tournament gave Kansas City a chance to show millions of people what the region can achieve when everyone works toward a common goal.

Before the final quarterfinal at Arrowhead Stadium, local leaders discussed how far Kansas City had come since being selected to host the 2026 World Cup four years ago.

"This was our moment on the international stage," Hunt said at a KC2026 news conference published by the Kansas City Star, "And we've not missed seizing that moment."

The World Cup brought fans together across Kansas City. Around 36,000 Dutch supporters took part in the Oranje FanWalk in downtown. FanFest and public watch parties also welcomed visitors from many countries, making the city feel festive during the tournament.

Hunt believes the successful tournament will create opportunities for Kansas City's performance, as it can stand alongside much larger markets when seeking future international sporting events, while the Chiefs' role in hosting the World Cup will strengthen the organization's reputation beyond the NFL.

If Kansas City could deliver one of the world's biggest sporting events, what major stage could it earn next? What do you think? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Shreya Mishra

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore