Bidding farewell to FIFA World Cup in Kansas City. How did we do? Worth the cost?
The FIFA World Cup and its games, Fan Fest, watch parties and celebrations have departed Kansas City. And all that remains is the cleanup.
How did Kansas City do, and was it worth the cost? By many accounts the world’s biggest sporting event played in the smallest U.S. World Cup market unfolded as planned, and the national reviews have been positive.
On SportsBeat KC, the sports podcast of The Star and KCUR (89.3 FM), columnists Vahe Gregorian and Sam McDowell offer their evaluation of Kansas City’s month in the international spotlight, discussing the moments of triumph and mistakes along the way.
How does Kansas City’s performance affect our odds when future sporting events come up for bids?
This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 1:04 PM with the headline "Bidding farewell to FIFA World Cup in Kansas City. How did we do? Worth the cost?."