The crowd is cheering, flags are waving, then there’s silence for a millisecond, and the ball travels through the air… BUUUT, GOOOOAL, GOOOOL! Every four years, the world comes together for the summer to celebrate the beautiful game. And exactly one year from today, the FIFA World Cup 26 will kick off. But this World Cup will be experienced differently. With matches taking place across Canada, the United States, and Mexico, the global celebration will be closer to home than ever before. Kansas City, proudly known as the Soccer Capital of America™, is one of the U.S. host cities. Next summer, the world will get a front-row seat to everything that makes KC special.
But this isn’t a new chapter for Kansas City. Through Sporting Kansas City, the city has long been a home for international talent. Players from across the globe wear Sporting Blue, and for some, the possibility of wearing the colors of their national teams on the biggest stage in sports is an exciting challenge. Among them, three Sporting KC players: Zorhan Bassong (Canada), Santiago Muñoz (México), and Jake Davis (USA) are living the journey and dreaming of next summer’s tournament. Their stories are as diverse as the countries they represent, yet they all tie back to Kansas City.
Canada: Zorhan Bassong
Zorhan Bassong has already lived out part of his international dream, wearing Canada’s colors with pride since his debut in January 2020. In his debut match against Barbados, not only did Canada earn a 4-1 victory, but Bassong assisted on Russell Teibert’s goal, helping build a 2-0 lead that set the tone for a dominant performance. The moment still resonates deeply.
“I remember playing my first game against Barbados and the good relationship that I built up through the years with all the guys over there. The coach and the staff, they all showed that they have a lot of respect and trust in me. Honestly, I would say that this is one of the things that actually changed my career. I was really happy about this opportunity. And to this day it still means a lot to me.”
Bassong also played a critical role during the Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying tournament in 2021, starting for Canada in a high-stakes semifinal against Mexico. While the Canadians fell 2-0 in that match, the invisible strings tying Bassong to Kansas City were there as he played opposite his now teammate Santiago Muñoz, who was part of the 19-man roster for México.
Now, Bassong is laser-focused on the dream that’s been in his heart since childhood.
“It's a great feeling to get called up every time you get an opportunity to go represent your country. I think it's one of the biggest things that you can actually accomplish as a football player, just because now you're not representing your city, but you have your whole country that you're trying to represent. So, it's always a good feeling to go there, to go fight for the best, fight for the country, and fight for the nation.”
The World Cup leaves a lasting impact on everyone who watches, players included. Watching the games and singing the songs all leave an imprint on a person. That’s no different for Zorhan, who recalls his first World Cup memory.
“The one that I got in my mind is when I was watching Brazil in 2006,” Zorhan recalls. “It's when I was old enough to actually understand the game a little. I was really supporting Brazil because they had a really good team. I remember Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Kaka, and all those guys were just amazing and you were watching them play and it was just pure enjoyment. It was joy. It was like they were having a party in the field.
So, it was a great feeling. And every time I think about the World Cup, I think about that and it just brings a lot of emotions inside of me.”
With Canada set to co-host the 2026 tournament, Bassong can already feel the excitement, not only for himself but also for all his loved ones.
“That's super exciting actually. To have an event as big as this one in your country is absolutely incredible. It's incredible because your friends and family, you get to be able to actually watch from a very close angle and I just want to make them proud and just to be able to play in front of them.
I know it's going to bring a lot of emotions for everybody in the family and my friends, even to me. I think honestly there is no greater feeling to be able to play at this level of football in front of the people you love. I don't even know how to describe it. It will be an amazing feeling.”
México: Santiago Muñoz
Santiago Muñoz’s story is one of early breakthroughs, rapid acceleration, and international triumph. Born in El Paso, Texas, he was discovered during an Allstate Alianza scouting event and quickly found his way into the youth academy at Santos Laguna in Mexico. Before turning 16, he was representing Mexico’s U-17 national team.
In 2019, Muñoz played a key role in helping Mexico finish second at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil, starting in the final.
"I arrived at Santos Laguna through a trial in El Paso with Allstate Alianza. After I arrived at Santos Laguna, everything happened very quickly...The World Cup qualifiers were approaching, then the World Cup in Brazil... I was just living day to day and then I looked back and said, 'I'm in Brazil now. I'm playing in the World Cup as a starter. I'm here with the national team.’... It all happened very quickly."
Muñoz followed that success with appearances in major youth tournaments, including the Concacaf Olympic Qualifiers in 2021. Mexico defeated Bassong and Canada in the semifinal and went on to win the entire tournament.
His professional journey took him to England on an 18-month loan with Newcastle United before returning to Mexico and eventually joining Sporting Kansas City.
“Then I went on loan to England for 18 months... It's been an incredible adventure. Since I started, everything happened very quickly. It started with a callup to the national team, then the Olympics. I've played in all kinds of tournaments with the youth teams, a call-up to the senior team... now everything happened very quickly.”
As he eyes the 2026 tournament, his motivation is deeply personal. With the World Cup in his backyard, there is excitement in the air and Santiago recalls his previous call-ups.
“It's something very special as a player to be able to represent the national team. And now knowing that the World Cup will be on this side, it's an extra motivation. I think preparing myself physically and mentally, which I think is the most important thing, and being surrounded by good people, including my family and the people at the club who are always very good to me. Surrounding myself with that and being focused on what I want to achieve and what I want to do.
It's an extra motivation and every time I go to the national team, I do it with great responsibility, with great pride, and also representing the club I come from.”
United States: Jake Davis
Jake Davis's story reflects the passion and identity of Kansas City soccer. As a product of the Sporting KC Academy, Davis is the embodiment of development in a city that lives and breathes the game. And now, with the World Cup coming to Kansas City, Davis has a chance to witness the biggest moment in American soccer history.
His love of the tournament was ignited in 2010 when he watched South Africa’s Siphiwe Tshabalala score the opening goal and break into a celebration that captured the world’s imagination.
“In 2010, when the World Cup was in Africa, the first goal, I think South Africa played Mexico. And there was a player, Siphiwe Tshabalala, for South Africa. And he scored the first goal of the tournament and they did a dance after. It was very iconic.”
To Davis, the World Cup is much more than a competition. It’s a feeling he knows all too well. For Davis, soccer is more than just a sport, it’s a feeling.
“I think for me, whenever there's soccer on, I feel safe. I feel happy. Like there's something going on. A whole summer or a whole period of time is literally dedicated to the best countries playing against each other. I think it's just cool to see people face off. It brings cultures together. It's a world event and I think that's special.”
In 2024, Davis received was named an alternate for the U.S. Olympic team traveling to France. Flying out and representing Team USA reshaped his understanding of what it means to represent your country.
“It was special just because I haven't really ever been involved in national team stuff. I had never really thought about the feeling of actually representing USA. When the coach called me and told me, ‘We want you to come represent us and be a part of this,’ it felt special. Especially when they do the parade in the beginning and LeBron [James] was holding the torch with all the Olympians on it. Seeing that, it's like wow, you're really a part of Team USA. It was cool.”
With Kansas City set to host World Cup matches, Davis sees a rare chance to bring the global game to the city that shaped his soccer career.
“It's pretty cool. I think that's probably the first time when the World Cup comes through that I'll be able to experience something like that in person. I've never been to an international game to see two countries face off. Especially that it's here makes it a cool experience for everybody. And I think it'll show a lot of people how big soccer is globally.”