Hundreds of soccer fans gathered at Shawnee Mission Park’s outdoor amphitheater to watch the first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup played in Kansas City. The Johnson County Park and Recreation District hosted the watch party, which featured a new 20×30-foot LED screen and local vendors and food trucks.

A Night to Remember

Lionel Messi scored a hat trick, leading his Argentine side to a 3-0 victory over Algeria. The crowd was wowed by Messi’s performance, with some fans cheering and others jokingly ‘hate-watching’ him. The event was family-friendly, with activities for children and a chance to win tickets to a World Cup game.

The Johnson County Park and Recreation Department will continue to hold almost daily watch parties through July 19th.

Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.