KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - With the FIFA World Cup winding down, Kansas City leaders and soccer officials are already setting their sights on the next major tournament: the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Mayor Quinton Lucas said the city’s performance as a host has positioned it well for a future bid.
“2031, first for our commitments from local government, the states of Missouri and Kansas, are no-brainers,” Lucas said. “I think the other part, though, is FIFA got to see it. And I sat next to FIFA people for a lot of those matches and I talked to them and they said, ‘This stadium is amazing’.”
KC Current sees momentum building
Dani Welniak with the Kansas City Current said the response around the city to the World Cup was no surprise to the organization.
“Kansas City has proven that it is not just the soccer capital of America, it’s proven that it’s the soccer capital of the world,” Welniak said.
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She said the Current’s growth is directly tied to the energy surrounding the tournament.
“The legacy that the current is creating because of the momentum of the World Cup is incredibly powerful,” Welniak said.
Welniak also noted the shift in attention toward the U.S. Women’s National Team following the U.S. men’s elimination from the tournament.
“And so for them to have that spotlight and then also to build off of that momentum for the women’s side and the U.S. women’s national team, I think is really cool too,” she said.
Arrowhead Stadium central to bid plans
Amid ongoing conversations about the future location of Arrowhead Stadium and a new Chiefs stadium in Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor Lucas said he is pulling for Missouri — and that Arrowhead in its current location will remain central to any bid.
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“There may be change at the complex, but I know good and well that Arrowhead Stadium will continue to be there,” Lucas said. “And I think that’s why we will certainly look to make that central to the bid.”
Mayor looks beyond 2031
Lucas said Kansas City’s ambitions do not stop with the Women’s World Cup. He expressed confidence that the city could compete with other major U.S. markets for future events.
“I respect other American cities. But I’ll tell you, just sitting here right now, I think we’re more exciting than Indianapolis, more exciting than Denver. I think every big thing should be here,” Lucas said.
He mentioned the Rugby World Cup as another potential target and said he will push to bring the FIFA Men’s World Cup back to Kansas City as far out as 2038.
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