In this interview with Anne Kniggendorf, Andrés Martinez explains the reasons why Kansas City has a strong claim to being the soccer capital of America. He walks through the important role played by Lamar Hunt in bridging the two footballs, the city's many firms and expertise as a builder and designer of soccer stadiums around the world, and the significance of CPKC Stadium as the first purpose-built women’s professional soccer stadium in the world. He also explains why he thinks that Kansas City, thanks to hosting World Cup games and prominent national teams for their base camps, will be forever branded as more of a global city than it was before.
Is KC a Soccer City? Author Andrés Martinez Says Lamar Hunt’s Soccer Legacy, the Currents’ Stadium and the Coming World Cup Make it So
An interview with GGL co-director Andrés Martinez about Kansas City's longheld identity as a soccer and sports city, as KC prepares to host 2026 FIFA men's World Cup matches. By Anne Kniggendorf, and published ahead of The Great Game book event at the Kansas City Public Library.