Kansas City starred during World Cup group stage. On to the knockouts & more drama

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is bringing out the best of Kansas City ... or is it the other away around?The massive global soccer tournament’s group-stage games at Kansas City (Arrowhead) Stadium provided incredible drama, all the way down to the final goal. The Netherlands’ “Oranje FanWalk” captivated the city and Arrowhead was painted in different hues for each match.Now, it’s on to the knockout-round games. Kansas City plays host to two, a Round of 32 contest on Friday and a quarterfinal after that.On SportsBeat KC, the sports podcast of The Kansas City Star and KCUR (89.3 FM), soccer correspondent Daniel Sperry shares his thoughts on what’s happened here in the tournament thus far, and what could on the horizon.One thing we know for certain: Friday’s next match in Kansas City pits Colombia vs. Ghana. It’s the last Round of 32 match and should come with the same intensity as previous games here, with the added pressure of elimination for the loser.SportsBeat KC is the sports podcast of The Kansas City Star and KCUR, hosted by Blair Kerkhoff. It’s produced by Hannah Wise, Suzanne Hogan, and Gabriella Lacey, and edited by Jeff Rosen and Scott Chasen.