About this episode

This episode explores the impact of women's soccer on Kansas City's identity and its significance in the U.S. soccer landscape.

With the Current’s trailblazing stadium, women’s soccer staked its claim as a vital part of Kansas City’s local identity. The women’s game is 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 more than a century of prejudice, unequal funding and outright bans, fans don't take this dominance for granted. KCUR’s Suzanne Hogan brings us the third installment of our mini-series on Kansas City’s soccer history.

People in this episode

Host: Suzanne Hogan

Topics covered

• women's soccer
• Kansas City
• soccer history
• FIFA World Cup
• sports identity

Keywords

• women's soccer
• Kansas City
• soccer history
• FIFA World Cup
• sports

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: KCUR

Places: Kansas City, U.S.

More episodes of A People's History of Kansas City

• Kansas City’s Flood of 1951 · August 25, 2026 · 29 min
• The marvelous Maud Wagner, the tattooed lady of Kansas · July 17, 2026 · 32 min
• America's favorite popsicle: the Bomb Pop · June 25, 2026 · 28 min
• Why Kansas City won the World Cup · May 27, 2026 · 39 min
• Carving Kansas City out from limestone · April 29, 2026 · 38 min
• Reclaiming the right to jaywalk · February 17, 2026 · 27 min

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