'Once in a lifetime opportunity' - Kansas City readies for World Cup influx

'Once in a lifetime opportunity' - Kansas City readies for World Cup influx10 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleVitas CarosellaGetty ImagesElated fans cheer on USA against Sweden at a Women's World Cup 2023 watch party in Kansas City"I never imagined the World Cup coming to my city," says Héctor Solorio, who has lived in Kansas City for 26 years and supports the local Major League Soccer team, Sporting Kansas City.Hector is thrilled to welcome the world to Kansas City and prove that it's a football city of global renown - even if he doesn't truly believe the US Men's National Team can achieve much in the tournament."I think it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said fellow Kansas City resident Alejandro Cabero when asked by the BBC how he felt about his city hosting some matches. "When I came here there was no soccer around. The KC Wizards [Sporting's previous name] had fewer than 3,000 fans. It's amazing."Located on the banks of the Missouri River in the heartland of the United States, the Kansas City metropolitan area - which straddles the state border between both Kansas and Missouri - is home to roughly 2.5 million people, making it one of this tournament's smallest host cities.It may not be in the top 30 largest metro areas in the US but it has an outsized influence in sporting terms. It's home to the most dominant NFL team in recent years, the Kansas City Chiefs, and hosts premier sporting events like the Big 12 college basketball tournament.It will host six World Cup soccer matches, including a round-of-32 match and a quarter-final. Four nations - Algeria, world champions Argentina, England and the Netherlands - will base themselves in the area.Getty ImagesHarry Kane's England team will be based in the areaCity, state, and tournament officials see the World Cup as an opportunity to show the world what the region has to offer."We're a city that has...