KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Kansas City will host its first-ever World Cup knockout stage match Friday night, when Colombia faces Ghana at Kansas City Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m.
Gustavo Restrepo, vice president of the Colombian Cultural Association, has spent more than a decade building the Colombian community across the Kansas City metro. He estimates roughly 4,000 Colombians live in the Kansas and Missouri area and expects them to show up in force Friday.
“It means a lot. It means the whole world, to be honest with you,” Restrepo said. “Number one, we are going to have Kansas in this spot. Colombia is playing absolutely wonderful. Second, because the people that are coming from all over the world are going to have Kansas in mind, a beautiful city that we are very proud of.”
Restrepo said he expects about 75% of the stadium to be wearing yellow, pointing to previous matches where Colombian fans made up the majority of the crowd.
“I want for the people to know that Colombia, we are very friendly, very happy,” he said. “We enjoy every single second of our Colombian performance. So just enjoy. Just be prepared to have the most kind people in the city. It’s something contagious.”
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Restrepo also described the cultural symbols he plans to bring to the match, including a No. 10 kit, a Colombian flag poncho, and a handmade sombrero volteao — a traditional Colombian hat he said is recognizable worldwide.
Colombian fans are set to kick off pre-match celebrations Thursday at 6 p.m. at Mill Creek Park, with a rally planned.
“I’m almost positive that we are going to beat Ghana,” Restrepo said.
Ghana supporters drawing a broad coalition
The Rev. Joseph Asante, associate pastor at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, said he has been in Kansas City for one year — and that the World Cup arriving here feels personal.
Asante, who is from the Asante tribe in Ghana, said he traveled to Philadelphia for the previous match and the support was electric.
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“I have Kenyans rooting for Ghana. I have Cameroonians rooting for Ghana. I have Kansas people and American people all going for Ghana,” Asante said.
Asante said he is coordinating with eight other Catholic priests in Kansas City who want to attend the match together in clerical dress, carrying Ghana flags.
“Ghana is soccer-infested,” Asante said. “And so everyone loves it, from kids to grown-ups. And a lot of people, comedians, all of them, musicians, they are all in America and they are coming.”
Asante also noted that Friday’s match comes as parts of Ghana is experiencing significant flooding. He said he had spoken with friends and classmates and described the situation as serious.
Despite that, Asante said his message to Kansas City is clear.
“Columbia, we love you. We love you in every way. But Ghana is winning,” he said. “We coming for you.”
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