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How Kansas City became the 2026 World Cup's most unlikely host city

Although Nelson says this was more of a bid from the Midwest US, Kansas City will be the smallest of 11 American metro areas to host the World Cup. Kansas City beat out Phoenix, Denver, Orlando, Cincinnati and Nashville among others – making this a sports upset, of sorts. There is a natural chip on our shoulders for the fans and sports teams in general,” Jake Reid, the president of Sporting Kansas City, the city’s Major League Soccer franchise, told the Guardian.