Daisy Garcia Montoya 
Education Reporter 

What felt like a long time coming is finally underway: the FIFA World Cup has begun with its arrival in Kansas City.

As it heads into its second full week of the tournament, Kansas City has welcomed thousands of travelers, domestic and international, putting this smallest host city onto the world stage.

Serving as the host city for a total of six matches (4 group stage matches, round of 32, and one quarterfinal), and being the team base camps or  ‘home away from home’ for four different teams including current world champions Argentina,along with England, Algeria, and Netherlands, the Kansas City metropolitan area has seen an influx of attention and coverage from all over the world.

Locally, residents have found ways to get involved in the excitement of the ‘beautiful game’, through attending rallies, watch parties, matches, going to World Cup-themed events, or stopping by the official FIFA Fan Fest at the National WWI Memorial and Museum. 

Ahead of the first opening match that took place on June 11th, against Mexico vs South Africa, local organization Mattie Rhodes Center (MRC) hosted a banderazo on June 10 at the South Lawn at the KC Convention Center (1509 Cherry) to cheer on the Mexican team.

A banderazo is a gathering place for fans to host a pep rally before matches, with flag waving, chanting, and showcasing their overall team spirit. 

“Banderazos are about passion, unity, and pride,” said John Fierro, President/CEO of Mattie Rhodes Center, in a press release. “We’re thrilled to bring a tradition to Kansas City that allows this unique art installation (Weaving Ties) to create a space where fans of all backgrounds can come together to celebrate the connection between art, soccer, community and culture.”

At this event, attendees enjoyed live music, food, drinks, and celebrated amongst fans the upcoming start of the tournament. 

Head Consul of Mexican Consulate in Kansas City,  Soileh Padilla Mayer, said that the Mexican reception to the World Cup has been incredible, from seeing families gathering in their Mexican jerseys in green spaces at the art installation, Weaving Ties, led by Mexican artist Betsabeé Romero, MRC and the Consulate of Mexico in Kansas City, to attending FanFest. 

The art installation was assembled through the help of volunteers and artists in the Kansas City area. 

“Community events like el banderazo, organized by local organizations, are a living example of a united, hard working community that celebrates harmony and tranquility. Our people are an essential part of the daily culture and life in this beautiful region of Missouri and Kansas,” Padilla Mayer said. “I want to make an open invitation to the Hispanic community to continue to watch this international tournament in a peaceful manner, responsibly and with great pride. Let’s enjoy these next matches in an exemplary manner. Remember that the doors at the Mexican Consulate are always open.” 

With a large Mexican population across the Kansas City Metro area and international visitors arriving, the consulate wants to remind the community that there are resources available such as preventative protection to provide information on local laws and campaigns against match ticket fraud so that everyone can enjoy the matches safely. 

Emergency consular services are also available to Mexican nationals in the case that a passport gets lost or stolen. 

In addition to the Weaving Ties Exhibition, the Consulate will be hosting other events that connect art and football such as the book presentation of ‘The Great Game’ by Andrés Martínez and a football photograph and jersey exhibition that includes the history of Kansas City local, China Medina.  

The opening weekend of the World Cup not only saw tournament co-host Mexico succeed in their opening match, but also saw the United States clench their first 3 points to continue their World Cup ambitions. 

Kansas City’s first World Cup match on June 16 was met with excitement and world wide coverage as reigning champion Argentina kicked off  their title-defending campaign against Algeria.

Attendees witnessed a historic 3-0 hat-trick by captain of La Albiceleste, Leonel Messi, securing 3 points and their first win in the tournament.

Over the weekend, Kansas City turned yellow as Ecuardiorans arrived to attend the Ecuador vs Curaçao game, which featured a visit from the royal family, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. Although the game ended in an underwhelming 0-0 draw, the score allowed Curaçao, the smallest nation to qualify in the 48-country tournament, to secure its first ever point in its country and World Cup history. 

With matches beginning and Fan Fest underway, some Northeast community members were able to get in the action directly as official FIFA World Cup 2026 volunteers. Volunteer roles for the World Cup saw overwhelming interest and the process to be selected included submitting an application and attending volunteer tryouts. After months of anticipation to see if he was selected, longtime Northeast resident, Nabil Abas, said that he was selected as a FIFA World Cup Fan Fest Host City Ambassador. 

Abas, who said that his role has made him a “floater” or someone who moves around to different sections of Fan Fest as needed, said that he volunteered because he believes that “Kansas City has a story to tell” and wanted a role where he could play a part in telling it. 

Having already participated in a few of his shifts, Abas said that what has stood out the most is the excitement and energy from people all over the world coming together for one shared interest: football (soccer). 

“One thing I’ve learned is that visitors are genuinely curious about Kansas City. Many people are coming up to me and asking me questions about our neighborhoods, local food, culture and attractions to check out,” Abas said. “I’ve been sharing about the Northeast because it is truly one of the most diverse and vibrant communities in our region where you’ll find incredible food, local businesses, local pride, and residents who genuinely care about their neighborhood. The Northeast reflects the global spirit that the World Cup is celebrating.” 

Abas said that he encourages local residents to embrace this unique moment and opportunity that Kansas City is having, whether by attending World Cup festivities, showcasing their businesses or simply making new connections that will create long-lasting impacts.

Edgar Palacios, CEO of Revolucion Educativa said that with the ongoing excitement surrounding the World Cup, he hopes that people recognize the value and importance of the Northeast long after the final match is played.

“I hope the city continues to listen to the people who live here and looks for opportunities to invest in the Northeast. When we invest in places like this, we’re investing in diversity, culture, community, and the future of Kansas City itself,” Palacios said. “The Northeast is a neighborhood that often gets it right. It’s resilient, it’s welcoming, and it’s full of people who care deeply about one another. That’s something worth celebrating, during the World Cup and well beyond it.”

Although Kansas City has now hosted two of the six  matches, the city is expected to continue to welcome visitors throughout the remainder of the tournament. 

For the upcoming Netherlands vs Tunisia game, Kansas City is expected to turn orange and will hold the infamous ‘Ojange Fanwalk’ in downtown on Thursday, June 25th, starting at KC Live! (13 Grand Blvd) where fans dress in orange and will march to Fan Fest ahead of the match. 

The World Cup tournament will continue through July 19 and fans can continue to be part of the action by attending Fan Fest on selected days. General admission is free but upgrades are available with limited availability. For more information on dates and registration, visit: https://kansascityfwc26.com/fifa-fan-festival/