KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With the excitement of the FIFA World Cup winding down, Kansas City leaders and soccer officials are already shifting their focus to the next massive international stage: a bid to host the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Mayor Quinton Lucas expressed immense confidence in the city’s prospects, noting that local governments and the states of Missouri and Kansas are fully united behind the effort. More importantly, Lucas said, FIFA officials got a firsthand taste of what the city can deliver.
KC Current Sees Global Momentum
The push for the 2031 tournament comes at a time of soaring soccer enthusiasm in the region. Dani Welniak of the Kansas City Current noted that the city’s electric response to the World Cup came as no surprise to the club.
Welniak highlighted how the Current’s growth is directly feeding off the tournament’s energy, creating a “powerful legacy.” She also noted that after the U.S. Men’s National Team was eliminated from the tournament, public attention naturally shifted toward the U.S. Women’s National Team, setting a perfect stage to build momentum for the women’s game.
Arrowhead Stadium Anchors Future Bids
Despite ongoing discussions regarding a potential new stadium for the Chiefs in Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor Lucas made it clear he is pulling for Missouri to host the tournament action—with GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium remaining the crown jewel of any future package.
“There may be change at the complex, but I know good and well that Arrowhead Stadium will continue to be there,” Lucas said in an interview with KCTV 5 in Kansas City. “And I think that’s why we will certainly look to make that central to the bid.”
Grand Ambitions: Rugby and the 2038 Men’s World Cup
Kansas City’s sports ambitions extend well past 2031. Mayor Lucas made it clear that KC is ready to compete with—and beat—traditional major U.S. markets for the world’s biggest 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.
Looking ahead, the mayor mentioned the Rugby World Cup as a potential target, and boldly stated that he will push to bring the FIFA Men’s World Cup back to Kansas City as early as 2038.
