How Kansas City Won the World Cup
Interview with Pam Kramer, Kathy Nelson, and Cliff Illig
Kansas City just experienced something we had been dreaming about for decades. Now, for the first time, the people who helped make it happen are sitting down together to tell the story.
In this special KC2026 World Cup wrap-up, Kathy Nelson, President and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation; Pam Kramer, CEO of FIFA World Cup 26™ Kansas City; and Cliff Illig, co-founder and co-owner of Sporting Kansas City, come together for a conversation you haven't heard before.
They take us behind the scenes of Kansas City's World Cup journey: from the decade-long effort to land a coveted host city designation to the moments the public never saw and the decisions that helped turn KC2026 into an unforgettable success.
They also reflect on what the World Cup meant for Kansas City and the region, and the economic, cultural, and community impact that will continue long after the final whistle.
Throughout the story is the legacy of Lamar Hunt, whose passion for soccer and belief in Kansas City helped lay the foundation for this moment decades ago.
This isn't just a recap of the matches.
It's the inside story of how Kansas City became a World Cup city - and what happens next.
