By the Associated Press and KFDI News:

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has chosen Kansas City as a 2026 World Cup host city.   The announcement was made Thursday afternoon.  Atlanta, Miami, and Philadelphia were also among the cities chosen to host matches, along with Atlanta, Houston and Arlington, Texas.

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran issued a statement applauding the decision:

“Over the past five years, the greater Kansas City area has pulled together in remarkable ways to demonstrate to those around the globe that ‘We Want The World Cup.’ And that hard work has paid off.  I look forward to welcoming soccer fans from around the world to the Soccer Capital of America when Kansas City hosts the 2026 World Cup. Thank you to the KC2026 leadership team, the Kansas City Sports Commission, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, and all the ambassadors and volunteers for your work to bring for the most-watched sporting event in the world to Kansas City.”

In 2017, at the start of the bid 2026 World Cup bid process, Senator Moran offered his support for Kansas City to the Executive Director of the United Bid Committee.

Kansas Senator Roger Marshall also issued a statement:

“Today is a great day for Kansas City! Kansas is home to some of the most devoted, fanatic soccer fans in the world that are ready to cheer on Team USA – and what better place than America’s heartland? The Kansas City community, alongside Sporting KC and the KC Sports Commission have shown unwavering commitment to make this dream a reality, and I congratulate them for their hard work.”

Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Philadelphia and Seattle and Kansas City, Missouri, were the newcomers among the 11 U.S. sites picked to host games at the 2026 World Cup, while Baltimore, Cincinnati, Denver, Nashville, Tennessee, and Orlando, Florida, were left out.

Arlington, Texas; East Rutherford, New Jersey; Foxborough, Massachusetts, and Inglewood and Santa Clara, California, were the holdovers.