Kansas City

With the trailblazing Current stadium, women's soccer staked its claim as a vital part of Kansas City’s identity. It's a central reason why this city will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and why the United States gets taken seriously in soccer at all. But after centuries of prejudice, unequal funding and outright bans, fans don't take this dominance for granted.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is fast approaching, but that's just the beginning of Kansas City's hopes to become an international sports hub. Kathy Nelson, president and CEO of Visit KC and the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation, said the city is well-positioned to host the FIFA Women's World Cup and Men's Rugby World Cup in 2031.

If the measure passes, Kansas City will continue collecting a 63-year-old tax on wages, salaries and profits. If it fails, the city will be forced to find another source for hundreds of millions of dollars — or else make dramatic cuts.

A reopened private prison outside of Kansas City is already ramping up as an immigration detention facility. But resistance in both Democratic and Republican cities points to broader unease with the direction of immigration enforcement.

The 1% earnings tax provides nearly half of Kansas City’s overall budget. Voters will decide April 7 whether to extend it for another five years.

Kansas City and other World Cup host cities must provide stadium infrastructure, transportation, security, even medical support — with little help from FIFA, despite sky-high ticket prices. And the recent federal funding drama shows that "local pride" may not be enough to pay the bills.

Ahead of March 17, get your shamrocks ready to visit the Irish pubs and restaurants that help define Kansas City — a metro that was shaped with the help of Irish immigrants.

For decades, Kansas City has made it mandatory to provide a minimum amount of parking spaces for restaurants, businesses and apartments. Planners and advocates say that the high price has prevented empty storefronts from being filled and hollowed out the urban core.

The Republican-drawn congressional map divides Kansas City into three districts, and lumps the urban core with rural communities 200 miles away. While the map was upheld by a Jackson County judge, multiple other lawsuits against Missouri's mid-decade redistricting have yet to be decided.

A bill sponsored by a Grain Valley Republican would allow a license or permit issued by Jackson County to be valid for a mobile food business operating under any municipality in the county.

Chef Silvia Miguel provides empanadas and other pastries to coffee shops like Cafe Corazon, as well as restaurants and hotels. Her bakery Pan Caliente will be offering a "rotating lineup" of empanadas to match countries participating in the World Cup.

If “hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup” were a sport in and of itself, these past few months have shown that perhaps Kansas City wants this more than other cities. Plus: Federal funding woes and other issues facing the tournament with 100 days to go.