When the 2026 FIFA World Cup opens its doors across three North American nations, the excitement will be especially palpable in Kansas City and Dallas, where matches will be staged at iconic venues that echo a decades‑long dream.
A Vision Forged in Europe
That dream traces its roots to a young American who, after a formative trip to Europe in the early 1960s, fell in love with the beautiful game and set his sights on bringing soccer to the United States.
Lamar Hunt’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to help launch the North American Soccer League, the first serious attempt at a professional league in the country, and later to co‑found Major League Soccer, the competition that now boasts 30 franchises spanning the United States and Canada.
From NASL to MLS: A Journey
His sons, Clark and Dan Hunt, have vivid recollections of traveling to World Cup tournaments with their father, sharing meals, chants and the thrill of watching the world’s best on the biggest stage.
Today, Clark serves as co‑chairman of the 2026 World Cup committee for Kansas City, while Dan holds the same role for Dallas, overseeing preparations that will see Arrowhead Stadium — home of the Kansas City Chiefs — host a quarterfinal and other high‑stakes matches.
Remembering Lamar
For Dan Hunt, the upcoming tournament is more than a professional milestone; it is the culmination of a personal promise he made to his late father, who once called Arrowhead his favorite place on earth.
The growth of MLS, from a modest start to a 30‑team league, reflects the vision that Lamar championed, a vision that continues to inspire players, fans and even global icons such as Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Lionel Messi, who have all praised the league’s progress.
The 2026 Tournament Takes Shape
As the tournament draws near, the Hunt family’s story stands as a testament to how a single passion, nurtured across continents and generations, can reshape a sport’s landscape in a new continent.