In a state known for its love of sports, legendary teams and scores of dedicated fans, it was only a matter of time before soccer would soar to new heights in Missouri.
Kansas City and St. Louis have become major soccer hubs – each with a growing soccer culture fueled by a passionate fan base. In the past five years, two new professional soccer teams and two new state-of-the-art stadiums have cemented Missouri’s spot in the soccer world.
From the world-class athletes on the field to the crowds in the stands, soccer is making a big splash in the Show-Me State.
Missouri’s Professional Soccer Teams
St. Louis CITY SC Men’s Soccer Team
The St. Louis CITY SC men’s soccer team joined Major League Soccer as an expansion team in 2023. Founded in 2019, the soccer club plays its home matches at CITYPARK, which opened near St. Louis Union Station in 2023. Fans have embraced the new addition to St. Louis’s sports scene and regularly fill the 22,500-seat stadium – setting several MLS attendance records.
CITYPARK’s 32-acre site includes the team headquarters, store, practice facility and CITY SC’s reserve team, CITY 2. It’s the largest urban professional sports campus in the United States. With a focus on promoting all that St. Louis has to offer, CITYPARK celebrates the city’s diverse neighborhoods and offers a curated selection of food from the area’s top restaurants during matches.
Throughout the season, CITY SC holds special events including block parties and free events with games, giveaways and musical performances.
Kansas City Current Women’s Soccer Team
The Kansas City Current joined the National Women’s Soccer League as an expansion team in 2021. The team’s new stadium opened at the Richard L. Berkley Riverfront Park in downtown Kansas City in 2024. CPKC Stadium is the first stadium in the world built specifically for a women’s professional sports team. The 11,500-seat facility, along with a new innovative training complex, form the foundation for the team’s goal of setting a new standard for the future of women’s sports.
The stadium proudly represents its hometown and features regional cuisine. Soccer fans can sample barbecue, beer and wine from local restaurants, breweries and wineries during home games.
Focused on making a positive impact on the community, the team has contributed over $800,000 to nonprofit organizations since 2020. More than 1,000 young soccer players have participated in the KC Current YMCA Youth Soccer Program.
Missouri Soccer Supporters Groups
Attend a game in St. Louis or Kansas City, and you’ll quickly discover it’s much more than a soccer match. The atmosphere is electric – filled with chanting, singing, drum playing and flag waving. Supporters groups and drum corps lead the charge throughout the game.
KC Blue Crew (Kansas City Current)
At Kansas City Current games, you can’t miss The KC Blue Crew. They focus on creating a great home game environment and, of course, cheering on the team. The group’s mission: welcome fans to the game, support the team and its players, and show the world what makes Kansas City special.
St. Louligans (St. Louis CITY SC)
The north end of CITYPARK in St. Louis comes alive when the supporters for St. Louis CITY SC arrive. The St. Louligans is just one of several groups that loudly display their devotion to the sport and help make every soccer game an event to remember. The group has just three rules: show up, make noise and have fun.
No Nap City Ultras (St. Louis CITY SC)
Another group, the No Nap City Ultras, promotes the family-friendly atmosphere at CITYPARK and encourages parents to bring their kids to the stadium. The group hosts pre-game activities for young soccer fans throughout the season.
The supporters groups not only share their love of soccer during matches, they keep the team spirit flowing in between games via social media, podcasts and special events.
World Cup Coming to Kansas City
Kansas City will welcome soccer fans from across the globe in 2026 for the FIFA World Cup games.
The city is one of 16 locations in North America where 48 men’s soccer teams will compete for the title of World Champion in the biggest ever World Cup event. Kansas City will host six matches in June and July, including one quarter-final game, at Arrowhead Stadium.
Missouri Soccer History
St. Louis
The success of St. Louis CITY SC is the latest chapter in the region’s rich soccer history. The earliest record of organized soccer in the city dates to 1881. Through the years, St. Louis has been home to more than a dozen amateur and professional soccer teams. The St. Louis Kutis and the St. Louis Stars were two of the most successful. The city was best known for its highly successful amateur clubs that gained national recognition in the U.S. Open Cup and National Amateur Cup.
Kansas City
Kansas City’s soccer history includes the Spurs, founded in 1968. Interest in the sport surged in 1995 when the Kansas City Wiz, renamed the Kansas City Wizards in 1996, was established as one of 10 charter teams for Major League Soccer. The Kansas City Comets – a popular Major Arena Soccer League team – plays at the Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence. The team, organized in 2010, was named for the original Kansas City Comets, a club formed in 1981.
Kansas City continues to make soccer history with the addition of the Kansas City Current, the new CPKC Stadium and world-class training center, and as a host city for the 2026 World Cup.