Issuu

LIVING WITH DISTINCTION

Soccer Fever HITS LEAWOOD

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Angie Taylor

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Leslie Clugston Andres

Contributing Writers

Jill Dutton

Jackie Hostetler

Beth Kornegay

Contributing Photographers

Kevin Anderson

Brooke Buck

Sarah Reeves

Strauss Peyton Portrait Studio

Publisher Bill Uhler

Director Bob Cucciniello

As the days grow longer and the weather warms, you can feel the energy of spring building toward summer. This year, that sense of anticipation is even greater. In the months ahead, our community will celebrate America’s 250th Independence Day while the Kansas City region welcomes visitors from around the globe for FIFA World Cup 2026TM Throughout the coming months, you’ll see many ways to get involved, including community cleanups, match-day events, and our 3v3 Leawood For the Goal Soccer Tournament. This summer will truly be a time to celebrate Leawood!

Through our Leawood For the Goal initiative, we have been preparing for this oncein-a-generation opportunity to showcase our community as visitors from around the world visit the KC metro area. This issue highlights the many ways Leawood is preparing.

One of the initiatives we are especially proud of is the For the Goal Business Readiness Grant program, developed in partnership with the Leawood Chamber. These grants will help locally owned businesses prepare for increased visibility and visitors during the tournament. I congratulate the businesses selected to receive these grants and thank them for continuing to make Leawood such a vibrant place.

We are also encouraging residents and visitors to explore our local business community through ShopDineLeawood.com, a soon-to-be-released website featuring online offers and promotions from participating businesses across the city. It will be a great way to discover new places while supporting the entrepreneurs who help make Leawood thrive.

Even in the glare of the world spotlight on Kansas City, we won’t forget the 250th anniversary of the document declaring to the world the principles that have bound us together as a nation for 250 years. Independence Day celebrations, such as an old-fashioned parade down the newly constructed Tomahawk Creek Parkway and a fireworks show for the ages at City Park, are planned to celebrate the Spirit of 1776. Read on for details on all those activities and more, and how you can take part.

Moments like these remind us of what makes Leawood special. When our community comes together to support local businesses and welcome visitors, we show the world exactly what our motto “Living with Distinction” means. I invite you to explore this issue and join us as we prepare to welcome the world and celebrate our community.

Mayor Marc Elkins Mayor, City of Leawood

In just a few weeks, we will welcome FIFA World Cup 2026TM. For many communities, this is a once-ina-generation moment. For us, it’s more than a global event; it’s an opportunity to showcase who we are, what we value, and how we show up for one another.

As we prepare to host visitors from across the globe, one thing is clear: The success of this moment won’t be measured just in attendance numbers or hotel stays. It will be measured in how well we support and elevate the businesses and people who make our community so special every day.

Our local businesses are the backbone of this community. They are the restaurants that will introduce visitors to Leawood’s flavor, the retailers who create memorable experiences, and the service providers who will ensure every guest feels welcome. Long after the final match is played, these businesses will continue to shape the story people tell about their time here.

Supporting local businesses this summer isn’t just a feel-good idea; it’s a strategic priority. It means helping them prepare for increased demand, ensuring they have access to resources and information, and creating opportunities for them to participate in the broader event ecosystem. It also means, as residents and leaders, making intentional choices to spend locally and champion the businesses we know and trust.

But this moment is bigger than economics.

When visitors arrive, they won’t just see our stadiums or our infrastructure; they will experience our culture. They’ll notice how we greet them, how we collaborate, and how we celebrate together. Every interaction, every meal, every conversation becomes part of the impression we leave behind.

As a Chamber and EDC, we are committed to helping our business community not only prepare but thrive. We are working alongside the city, regional partners, and other local stakeholders to ensure that our businesses are positioned to take full advantage of this unprecedented opportunity.

At the same time, each of us has a role to play.

Support your favorite local restaurant. Introduce a visitor to a small business they might not otherwise discover. Share your favorite spots. Be an ambassador for the place we call home.

Because when we support our local businesses, we’re telling the world who we are.

And I can’t think of a better story to tell.

Stephanie Meyer President & CEO, Leawood Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council

On the Cover

From left: Matt Besler, Tim Melia and Graham Zusi love soccer and relish being fans for the FIFA World CupTM games to be played in Kansas City.

Photo by Strauss Peyton Portrait Studio

9 Leawood Is Ready for the World!

Collaborative committee aims to score on the big stage.

10 Kansas City Area Sets Stage for Soccer

A primer on FIFA World Cup 2026TM in Kansas City.

20 Leawood For the Goal!

Eight local businesses are betting on FIFA World Cup 2026TM.

28 Celebrate International Soccer

Leawood prepares for the FIFA World Cup 2026TM and everything that comes with it!

32 A Leawood Superfan’s Global Journey Soccer quickly becomes a passion and a ticket to other cultures.

40 Celebrate the Fourth Leawood’s patriotic festivities include the return of a city parade.

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Leawood Is Ready for the World!

Collaborative committee aims to score on the big

stage.

This issue of Leawood Magazine highlights Leawood’s many activities in conjunction with the KC Metro’s hosting this summer of the FIFA World Cup 2026TM. These events, however, cannot happen without many hours of work by a dedicated group of city officials and chamber of commerce volunteers. We extend our deepest gratitude to our city’s Executive Planning Committee for programming this summer’s celebration. Your time, expertise, and passion are helping position our community to shine on a global stage. From early planning to execution, your commitment reflects the very best of our city. We are especially grateful for the leadership of our executive committee, whose vision and steady guidance continue to move this work forward, as well as our event and programming chairs, Chris Reid and Matt Peppes, who are turning big ideas into meaningful, memorable experiences for residents and visitors alike.

To each member of the committee (listed at the right): Thank you for your leadership, collaboration, and unwavering belief in what our community can accomplish together.

—Mayor Marc Elkins

2026 Leawood For the Goal!

Committee:

Executive Committee:

Council member Julie Cain

Council member Lisa Harrison

Chamber president Stephanie Meyer

Assistant city administrator Stephen Powell Full Committee:

Nicole Fowler, AdventHealth

Chris Reid, Alloy Personal Training

Stacey Belzer, Book It with Stacey

Jordan Ward, Capitol Federal Savings

Diane Stoddard, Leawood city administrator

Chief Brad Robbins, Leawood chief of police

Chris Claxton, Leawood parks and recreation director

David Ley, Leawood public works director

Chief Colin Fitzgerald, Leawood fire chief

Matt Peppes, Leawood City Council

Lance Zimmerman, McInnes Group

Joe Nasternak, Muse Freight

Kyle VanSlyke, Musselman & Hall

Leonard Cors, RanchMart

Meg Helf, Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids

Michael Hiatt, Steel City Media

Sheila Rodriguez, Lucian Financial Group

Jacqueline Shrum, Town Center Plaza | Crossing

Neal Woodworth, Woodworth Snow

ABOVE Leawood For the Goal! executive committee includes (from left) city council members Julie Cain and Lisa Harrison; chamber president Stephanie Meyer; and assistant city administrator Stephen Powell.

BELOW City council member Matt Peppes (left) was behind the efforts for the small business readiness grants, while Chris Reid, co-owner and general manager of Alloy Personal Training, organized the 3v3 soccer tournaments.

kansas city area sets stage for

SOCCER

A primer on the FIFA World Cup 26TM in Kansas City.

By Bob Luder

Photographs by Strauss Peyton Portrait Studio

From left, Tim Melia, Matt Besler and Graham Zusi have fun during the photo shoot at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Leawood.

For five weeks this summer, the North American triad of the United States, Canada, and Mexico will be at the center of the soccer world. As the FIFA World CupTM is widely regarded as the biggest and most important global sporting event, these three countries will be the focus of the entire sporting world.

To ratchet up the emphasis another notch, with the Kansas City area being geographically situated in the center of the U.S. and Kansas City regarded as the “Soccer Capital of America,” it can safely be said that the metro area and its residents will, themselves, be at the center of the sports universe.

From June 11 through July 19, FIFA World Cup 2026TM will be held at stadiums in 16 cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. In Kansas City, it promises to be a massive celebration of soccer, with the metropolitan area’s central location, passionate fan base, and top-tier facilities making it a highlight of the tournament.

There are plenty of opportunities for fans to share in the excitement, whether by attending a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (officially re-named Kansas City Stadium just for FIFA World Cup 2026TM), a related fan event, or simply a watch party with family or friends. Prepare to open your wallet for catching a game in person; still four months out from the tournament, one site showed tickets starting at a minimum of $280 for a pair. But there will be many other avenues to get involved, from fan fests to public and private watch parties.

Leawood will be getting in on the action as well. There will be a 3v3 soccer tournament held June 12–14 at Leawood City Park. The city also is planning public viewing events that will bring neighbors, families, and visitors together to experience the excitement of the tournament in festive, welcoming environments.

Kansas City Stadium will host six games altogether: four group-stage matches, a “knockout” game in the Round of 32, and a quarterfinal that promises to pit two of the top teams in the world against each other to determine a berth in the final four. The first of those four group-stage matches features defending FIFA World CupTM champion Argentina and its star Lionel Messi, generally regarded as the best soccer player in the world, competing in what will most likely be his final FIFA World CupTM.

In addition to the games, four of the 48 teams competing in the tournament are setting up their base camps in the area, where they’ll train and conduct business between matches. The aforementioned defending FIFA World CupTM champs, Argentina, will be headquartered at the Compass Minerals

National Performance Center, Sporting KC’s training facility, in Kansas City, Kansas.

England will house its players in Prairie Village and base its training at the Swope Soccer Village in east Kansas City. The Netherlands will hold its base camp at the KC Current Training Facility in Riverside, Missouri. And Algeria will put down stakes 40 miles west, at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence.

Unfortunately for fans, training sessions are usually closed, and public access will be restricted. However, the teams may organize special public events or open training sessions. In addition, some community engagement could take place at hotels or selected sites around each city.

June 16

Argentina vs. Algeria (group stage)

June 20

Ecuador vs. Curaçao (group stage)

June 25

Tunisia vs. Netherlands (group stage)

June 27

Algeria vs. Austria (group stage)

July 3

Round of 32 (knockout)

July 11 Quarterfinal

An official FIFA Fan Festival will take place at the National World War I Museum and Memorial. The 18-day event is free to the public, and there will be large screens for watching the matches, as well as food and live music.

No matter the level of engagement, there will be something for everyone interested in taking part in one of the largest sporting events to come to the Kansas City area. For more information, go to www. KansasCityFWC26.com.

Leawood For the Goal!

Leawood’s World Cup Committee has been preparing for FIFA World Cup 2026TM since last year. Read about the various local events on page 28, the city’s Fourth of July celebration on page 40, the businesses selected for the Business Readiness Grant program on page 20, and a soccer superfan who calls Leawood home on page 32.

The city is also home to three retired soccer players, Sporting Kansas City legends Matt Besler, Tim Melia, and Graham Zusi, who will be part of city events celebrating FIFA World Cup 2026TM. Turn the page for more on these great players!

MATT BESLER

Looks Forward to This World CupTM

Sporting Kansas City legend founded Captains Soccer Club and calls Leawood home.

Sporting Kansas City soccer legend Matt Besler remembers spending much of his childhood in Overland Park with a rather large chip on his shoulder. It had nothing to do with any perceived slights or the soccer talent that made him arguably the greatest player ever to come out of the area. It had more to do with the Kansas City area itself and perceptions of it from outsiders who didn’t know what he knew.

“When I was young and small, I thought Kansas City was the epicenter of the world because it was all I knew,” Besler says. “In my 8-year-old mind, Kansas City was on par with the world.

“It wasn’t until I got older … I realized there was a bias against Kansas City. It was not looked at as a major city or soccer city. It was looked down on in terms of talent. When I showed up at tournaments and told people I was from Kansas, I might as well have been from Mars.

“I carried that chip on my shoulder my whole life.”

That makes it especially satisfying to Besler, now a 39-yearold husband and father of three living in Leawood, that the “epicenter” of his life is becoming the center of the soccer world this summer. Kansas City is one of 16 cities selected across the United States, Canada and Mexico to host games of the FIFA World Cup 2026TM. GEHA Field and Arrowhead Stadium, renamed Kansas City Stadium during the FIFA World CupTM, will host six games in all, including a lead-off match on June 16 featuring defending champion Argentina and a quarterfinal on July 11. Four of the 48 teams in the tournament will establish base camps in the area. There will be fanfest events and watch parties galore held throughout the metroplex.

It promises to be a celebration of international sport the likes of which Kansas City has never seen.

“Those of us who’ve lived here have known all along,” Besler says with more than a glint of pride in his eyes. “The first time I played in Arrowhead, it was the Kansas–Missouri high school all-star game in 2004. The second time was the (Major League

Soccer Kansas City) Wizards playing Manchester United in an exhibition game in front of a record crowd of 52,000.

“We have all the pieces to make a great host city. It’s time for the world to discover that.”

While Sporting Kansas City (formerly the Wizards) provided a great vehicle for showcasing his talents at a professional level, Besler played a significant role in putting the area on the map as a top-flight source of soccer talent, starting in high school at Blue Valley West, where he led the Jaguars to a Kansas 5A state championship his senior season. He was named the 2004 Gatorade Player of the Year for Kansas and was a National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American.

Following a stellar collegiate career at Notre Dame, where he helped the Fighting Irish to four straight national tournament berths, Besler was selected eighth overall by the Wizards in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. What followed was a 12-year run with Sporting KC (the Wizards rebranded in 2010) during which he was named an MLS all-star six times, recognized as league defender of the year in 2012, and led the club to one MLS Cup championship (2013) and three U.S. Open Cups (2012, 2015, 2017). When he left SKC following the 2020 season, he was the club’s all-time leader in games played, games started, and minutes played.

After playing one season with Austin FC, Besler retired from Sporting at the end of the 2021 MLS season. Yet he says his career highlight has occurred much more recently.

“My absolute favorite memory was getting inducted into the Sporting Kansas City Hall of Fame last summer,” he says. “I got to experience that with my wife and kids, and it was a special night.”

Another obvious highlight was playing for the U.S. Men’s National Team at the 2014 FIFA World CupTM in Brazil. Besler started all four games for the American team, which advanced from the group stage into the knockout Round of 16.

“I never thought I’d be playing in a World Cup,” he says. “I just wanted to be a professional soccer player. The World Cup was a great experience; it’s the pinnacle of our sport, and there are different emotions when you’re playing for your country. You’re basically in a bubble. There’s high anxiety. It’s hard to remember much.”

“I never thought I’d be

playing in a World Cup. I just wanted to be a professional soccer player. The World Cup was a great experience;

it’s the pinnacle of our sport....”

–MATT BESLER

Besler says he’ll do everything he can to soak up as much of the excitement surrounding this summer’s tournament. He’s an official ambassador for KC World Cup 2026TM. Meanwhile, he keeps busy running Captains SC, the youth soccer club he started last year, comprising 21 teams and 260 players.

“I’m looking forward more to this World Cup,” he says. “I don’t have to play. I can enjoy it.”

GRAHAM ZUSI

For the Goal!

After playing in FIFA World CupTM matches, Graham Zusi is looking forward to being a fan.

In many ways, Graham Zusi is the personification of professional soccer in Kansas City. He spent all 15 seasons of his pro career with Sporting Kansas City, establishing a Major League Soccer record for longevity with a single club. He played an instrumental role in Sporting winning an MLS Cup and three U.S. Open Cup championships. And he carried the club’s and Kansas City’s pride as a member of the United States Men’s National Team for several years, playing in the 2014 FIFA World CupTM and winning the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Now, a couple of seasons after his retirement, Zusi, a native Floridian, still resides in the KC area, settling into a postpro soccer life that includes an element of athleticism among other exciting endeavors.

As Zusi put it, there’s just something in the water here.

“Kansas City just grows on you,” he says. “If you were to ask me the first half of my career if Kansas City was going to be home, I’d have said no. But as I got to know KC more, I realized how special a place it is.

“It’s just a good hub.”

Zusi’s adopted home is the perfect place to bring his beloved sport back to the forefront this summer. Kansas City is one of 16 cities throughout North America to host FIFA World Cup 2026TM. Six games will be played on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium—renamed Kansas City Stadium for the tournament—in June and July, and four countries, including defending FIFA World CupTM champion Argentina, will headquarter teams in the area.

“With an event as massive as the World Cup, you expect games to be held in really big cities,” Zusi says. “But knowing how the (Sporting Kansas City) ownership works and how the city of Kansas City works … at the end of the day, it didn’t surprise me that FIFA chose (KC) as a host city.”

The FIFA World Cup 2026TM promises to be the biggest sporting event the area has ever seen, and Zusi, for one, can’t wait.

“I’m on a wait list (for tickets),” he says. “I’m hoping it works out that I can attend a couple.

“But maybe we’re thinking about this all wrong. Some of the most historic fan bases in the world will choose Kansas City as their home bases. I just want to experience this once-in-alifetime event. You’ll meet some of the most joyous people you’ll ever meet, all here for a common purpose.”

Born in Longwood, Florida, Zusi played college soccer at Maryland and led the Terrapins to two NCAA titles. In the 2008 NCAA national tournament, he scored game-winning goals in the semifinal and final.

He was drafted in the second round, 23rd pick overall, in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by the then Kansas City Wizards, made his pro debut in that season’s first game and never looked back. After leading the league in assists in 2012, a season in which SKC won the U.S. Open Cup, Zusi led the club to its second MLS Cup championship in 2013. Two more U.S. Open Cup championships followed in 2015 and 2017. Seven times he was named an MLS All-Star and twice was named MLS Best XI.

“I have just incredible memories of my time with the club,” he says. “It was an exceptional organization, top to bottom.

“I take a lot of pride in sticking with one club.”

In all, Zusi made 55 appearances and scored five goals for the U.S. national team. The most memorable were the four he played at the 2014 FIFA World CupTM in Brazil. In the Americans’ first game, Zusi provided the assist for the game-winning goal against Ghana. And in a memorable group-stage match against highly ranked Portugal, he assisted Clint Dempsey’s go-ahead goal in what turned out to be a 2-2 draw. The U.S. advanced to the Round of 16 before falling to Belgium.

“As a player, you dream of playing in a World Cup,” Zusi says. “But you’re so focused on the task at hand, it’s difficult to enjoy each and every moment.

“I’m certainly looking forward to experiencing this World Cup as a fan. To see what Kansas City does and shows is going to be exciting.”

Once he was away from soccer, Zusi got involved with real estate and, more recently, started some ground-up projects. He has also started La Casa del Padel, a club for the racket sport called Padel (think a blend of tennis and squash), with some of his old teammates. The club has two courts at the Overland Park Racquet Club and is looking at building its own facility in the next few years.

“I’ll always have something here. I think Kansas City will always be a hub for me. There’s something in the water. Once you fall in love with it, Kansas City makes it hard to leave.”

–GRAHAM ZUSI

“I’ll always have something here,” he says. “I think Kansas City will always be a hub for me. There’s something in the water. Once you fall in love with it, Kansas City makes it hard to leave.”

TIM MELIA

Earned a Rep as a Fierce Defender

Top goalkeeper feels at home in Leawood and the KC metro.

If there’s one word to describe Tim Melia’s professional soccer career—aside from stellar or champion—it’s perseverance

Stardom at the professional level wasn’t immediate. His career, which culminated in becoming the top goalkeeper in Major League Soccer and leading Sporting Kansas City to U.S. Open Cup championships in 2015 and 2017, was more about remaining patient and prepared while taking full advantage of every opportunity that came his way.

All of which makes Melia ecstatic that his adopted hometown of Kansas City will be in the soccer spotlight this summer when it hosts six games of FIFA World Cup 2026TM Much like his own playing career, the Kansas City area bided its time, thoroughly prepared itself over 30 years, and was ready to spring into action when FIFA, the world governing body of soccer, awarded the FIFA World Cup 2026TM to the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Kansas City, like Melia, did everything it needed to do to be ready when a critical opportunity arrived. And, while Melia’s professional playing career is in the rearview mirror, the moment is at hand for the town—his town—to shine on the world stage.

“I think this is going to be so incredible for this city,” Melia says. “The culture shock from all the people who come in here is going to be incredible. It’s really going to help the city grow. I’m just excited about it.”

As all eyes focus on the action at Kansas City Stadium, aka GEHA Field at Arrowhead, a lot is going on behind the scenes. What do the teams do when they’re not on the field? Four teams will be exploring the Kansas City area, as defending champions Argentina, the Netherlands and England will be based in the metro area, and Algeria will call Lawrence home for the duration of play.

“I think the fact that four teams decided to hold base camps here is a big deal,” Melia says. “It speaks volumes about the great facilities we have and the environment and love of soccer here.”

Melia has been a big part of that environment for the last decade. A native of Great River, New York, he began his professional career in 2007 with the Long Island Rough Riders

of the United Soccer League’s (USL) Premier Development League. The next year, he signed with the Rochester Rhinos of the USL First Division. The team’s starting goalkeeper was nearing the end of his career, and Melia was ready when called to step into the role of starter in 2009.

It was there that Melia earned a reputation that would follow him to MLS—for his fierce defense of the goal during penalty-kick situations.

In 2012, he received his first opportunity in the big leagues, signing with Chivas USA in the MLS and making six league appearances that season. In the middle of the 2014 season, he was released by Chivas and, still under contract, became a league pool goalkeeper for MLS. Sporting Kansas City called him up after its top two keepers were injured, and he was signed by the club for the 2015 season.

Melia emerged as Sporting KC’s starter in May and ended the season as the MLS Comeback Player of the Year. He then became the club’s primary goal protector for the next nine seasons.

“My career was never a straight-line trajectory,” he says. “I was lucky when I came here; all these guys were national-team starters. They were good players, but they were even better guys. We were winning, having fun, on and off the field.”

Melia led Sporting KC to U.S. Open Cup titles in 2015 and 2017, but it was the ’17 season when he really shone, allowing only 0.78 goals per game, an MLS-record low. He was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and earned a coveted spot on the MLS Best XI, the league’s top 11 players for the year.

“The championships always stick out,” he says regarding his Sporting KC career. “Those U.S. Open Cups … that’s always the culmination of all the hard work.”

Melia’s contract was not renewed ahead of the 2025 MLS season, and he announced his retirement on April 3 of last year.

“All phases of my life happened here,” says Melia, who witnessed the births of his three children here. These days, he lives in Leawood and is involved in local real estate property management. He says he’s had opportunities to continue playing elsewhere but decided against uprooting his family.

“I’m very happy here,” he says. “I feel very fortunate to have landed in such a family-friendly community.”

“I

think the fact that four teams decided to hold base camps here is a big deal. It speaks volumes about the great facilities we have and the environment and love of soccer here.”

–TIM MELIA

Melia never got an opportunity to play in a FIFA World CupTM but says he’s looking forward to attending a game or two this summer with his family.

“I wish I had experienced a World Cup, but it’s perfectly OK,” he says. “That’s what’s going to be so cool about this World Cup. I get to sit back and watch it in the city where I live, especially with my kids. My son is a soccer fanatic.

“(The World Cup) provides that kind of special experience.”

Leawood for the goal!

Eight local businesses are betting on FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Jackie Hostetler

Photographs by Brooke Buck

This summer, the world is coming to Kansas City.

When the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) announced that Kansas City would be one of 16 host cities for FIFA World Cup 2026TM, excitement rippled through the city. This year’s tournament is the largest in history and spans the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For a city that has spent the better part of a decade establishing itself as a world-class destination, the news felt like confirmation. Kansas City was ready for this moment.

But readiness, as any small business owner knows, takes work.

As many as 650,000 visitors are expected to visit the Kansas City region during the tournament, generating a direct economic impact of more than $653 million. The metropolis area will host national teams from at least seven countries and four continents, For several weeks in June and July, the city will achieve an international visibility it has never experienced before.

Business in Leawood

For Leawood businesses, that visibility is important. National team home bases for Argentina, England, the Netherlands and Algeria are located in the immediate area, meaning international fans won’t just be passing through; they’ll be setting up camp nearby. Fans will be looking for places to eat, shop, gather, and watch. The question isn’t whether the FIFA World Cup 2026TM will bring visitors to Leawood. It’s “Will Leawood’s businesses be ready when they arrive?”

That’s the idea behind Leawood For the Goal!, the city’s broad initiative built around the tournament. At its heart is the Business Readiness Grant program, which awarded $50,000 across eight locally owned Leawood businesses in early March, following a competitive application process. Grants, ranging from $4,250 to $10,000, were designed to fund improvements that enhance accessibility, customer flow, operational capacity, and the overall visitor experience.

The idea originated with Leawood city council member Matt Peppes, who saw FIFA World Cup 2026TM not only as a moment to celebrate but as an opportunity to invest. The concept grew out of conversations within the Leawood World Cup Committee centered on how the community could prepare to benefit local businesses directly.

His vision was straightforward: Help locally owned businesses, restaurants, shops and gathering places that give Leawood its character and make targeted improvements that would better serve customers, not just during the tournament but for years to come.

“The World Cup created the opportunity to start this conversation,” Peppes says, “but the impact we’re aiming for goes well beyond the event itself.”

The response from Leawood’s business community told its own story. Thirty-six businesses applied; eight were selected.

“Receiving 36 applications shows that our business community is engaged and thinking proactively about the opportunities the World Cup could bring,” Peppes says. “Many of the proposals reflected thoughtful ideas about improving customer experience, accessibility, and operations. It reinforced that our local businesses are willing to invest in themselves when they see an opportunity to grow.”

The eight businesses that received grants are as varied as Leawood itself: a coffee shop, a creative studio, a women’s boutique, an ice cream shop, a neighborhood bar and grill, a bubble tea café, a cookie bakery, and another ice cream concept. Together, they represent a cross-section of the community’s retail and dining life, and each has its own vision for what FIFA World Cup 2026TM could mean.

“When visitors come to the region, we want them to experience the great places and businesses we have here in Leawood,” Peppes says.

And if the eight grant recipients are any indication, Leawood is more than ready to deliver.

Revocup

The Businesses

Revocup, $10,000

what the Jordans describe as a philanthropic legacy in Ethiopia.

Some businesses are built on a business plan. Revocup was built on a Sunday afternoon ritual.

Brandon and Mervé Jordan spent years unwinding from long work weeks the same way. Every Sunday, the pair would visit a different Kansas City coffee shop, reconnecting over a cup and conversation. Over time, those dates became something more. They fell in love with the craft of coffee, from the intricate flavors of different roasts to the culture surrounding it.

“Coffee, like soccer, has been embraced by the world and is a unique experience everywhere,” Brandon says. “It’s only natural for us to love both.”

When they kept finding themselves driving 30 minutes to visit one particular shop, Revocup, the joke between them was that investing might be cheaper than their habit. Before long, that joke became a reality.

The Jordans opened their Leawood Revocup location just one month before COVID-19 hit.

“We panicked,” Brandon says. “We truly thought we had made the worst mistake of our lives.”

Instead, the Leawood community showed up in a way that still moves them to talk about it. Strangers became regulars. Regulars became friends. What began as a coffee shop evolved into what Brandon describes as a “third space,” a place where people work, create, meet and build relationships.

The shop features local artists and businesses, partners with Jewish Family Services for food drives, and is working toward

“To us, this business isn’t just coffee,” Brandon says. “It’s a living, breathing community of hardworking, creative, honest people. It means the world to our little family.”

Having molded their business into a diverse and committed community, the Jordans felt the FIFA World Cup 26TM announcement personally.

“As a multicultural family and team representing multiple cultures from around the world, the idea of hosting the world in our city feels incredibly special,” Brandon says.

The $10,000 grant, the largest of the eight awards, is helping Revocup prepare in practical and thoughtful ways. The shop is integrating multilingual menus and translation tools to better serve guests with limited English proficiency, expanding and upgrading seating both inside and out, and introducing a grab-and-go cooler stocked with sandwiches, wraps, salads, fruit cups and bottled beverages—all designed to serve customers more quickly and efficiently during what will be a very busy summer. Outdoor furniture is also being refreshed to create a more inviting overflow space during peak hours.

Beyond the physical improvements, the Jordans will infuse their menus with a creativity entirely their own. They’re developing latte flavors and drink specials inspired by the countries competing in the tournament.

“We want them to feel not just served but welcomed,” he says. “We want them to experience Midwest hospitality at its best. And we hope they leave with a story about Leawood that they carry back home with them.”

Creative Culture

Creative Culture, $7,000 Dell Ann Upp didn’t open Creative Culture simply to sell art supplies. She opened it to build community.

Creative Culture is a boutique creative studio and retail space in Leawood’s Park Place, offering workshops, community events, and a curated collection of projects that celebrate art, design and self-expression. From the beginning, Upp’s goal has been to create a place where people can slow down, explore their creativity, and connect with others.

“Seeing people walk in curious and leave feeling inspired or proud of something they created is incredibly rewarding,” she says.

When the FIFA World Cup 26TM announcement came, Upp immediately understood the scale of what was heading Leawood’s way.

“Hosting (tournament) matches is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Kansas City,” she says. “For businesses in Leawood and throughout the metro, it means welcoming visitors from all over the world and showcasing what makes our community special.”

For Creative Culture specifically, Upp sees the tournament as an opportunity to introduce visitors to the area’s creative spirit.

“Visitors won’t just experience the games, they’ll explore neighborhoods, shops, restaurants, and cultural spaces. We’re excited to be part of that experience,” she says.

The $7,000 grant is helping Creative Culture reconfigure studio workstations, introduce mobile supply

carts, upgrade its customer check-in system, and develop soccer-themed merchandise. Upp is also building a dedicated tournament-themed workshop menu, creating experiences that visitors can participate in even if they’re in town only for a few days. These drop-in workshops are designed around creativity and connection rather than long-term commitment.

Beyond the physical improvements, the studio is expanding programming, adjusting staffing levels, and exploring extended hours during peak periods to accommodate increased traffic. Upp is also pursuing partnerships with other local businesses and community organizations to help visitors discover Leawood’s broader creative and cultural offerings.

For Upp, the most meaningful prospect is what a FIFA World Cup 2026TM visitor might take away from a stop at Creative Culture.

“One of the best things about creativity is that it transcends language and culture,” she says. “If someone visiting from across the world walks into our space and participates in a workshop or simply explores what we offer, it creates a moment of connection. Those small moments, like discovering a local business or meeting someone new, are often what people remember most about traveling.”

Whether someone lives down the street or is visiting Kansas City for the first time, Upp wants them to feel inspired when they walk through the doors. This summer, that door will be open to the world.

lalli’s boutique

(913) 216-5745 / 5210 W. 116th Place / Park Place

Lalli’s Boutique, $4,250

After more than 30 years in advertising, Susan Hatten decided it was time to build something of her own.

Two and a half years ago, she opened Lalli’s Boutique at Park Place, a women’s boutique carrying trendy apparel, purses, bags, accessories, jewelry, and a selection of home décor. Her vision for the business is personal: build it steadily over the next few years and eventually pass it along to one of her daughters. It is, in other words, a business built with permanence in mind, and FIFA World Cup 2026TM feels exactly like the kind of milestone that could accelerate its future.

When news of the FIFA World Cup 2026TM came, Hatten had a big reaction.

As someone who has traveled widely and been in cities around the world while they were hosting FIFA World CupTM games, she knows firsthand what is coming.

“I have seen what the crowds are like and what the potential for increased business will be for small businesses like mine,” she says.

When Hatten learned grants were being offered to help businesses create better experiences for visiting fans, she applied immediately.

“I wanted to help make our area one of the most desired destinations in the metro for guests to visit,” she says.

Her grant is funding a custom-built checkout counter and an additional point-of-sale system. The goal is practical: reduce wait times, serve more customers simultaneously, and ensure that even when there’s a language barrier, every guest has a positive experience.

“This will allow us to reduce the waiting time for customers and give everyone the individualized attention that

they deserve,” Hatten says. “If there does happen to be any type of language barrier, we will be able to continue to help others in a timely manner while someone works with those customers to get them what they need.”

Her preparation goes further than the grant alone. Since FIFA World Cup 2026TM matches are evening events, Hatten plans to extend her hours and open on Sundays during the tournament. These changes will require increased staffing. Additionally, she’s gearing marketing efforts toward out-oftown guests through social media, direct outreach, and in-store special offers.

In terms of welcoming international visitors, the boutique carries a carefully curated selection of handmade items from five local artists.

“This allows us to offer truly original, unique, one-of-a-kind items to our visiting guests that will make great keepsakes from their time in Kansas City,” Hatten says.

For a family from Japan, Brazil, or Germany, a handcrafted piece from a Leawood artist might be the most meaningful souvenir of the trip, something that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

Summer Salt Ice Cream Co.,

$4,500

Curtis Thurston opened Summer Salt Ice Cream Co. in June 2020 with a simple but well-executed idea: Give the community a fun, welcoming spot to enjoy small-batch artisanal ice cream with rotating seasonal flavors along with vegan and dairyfree options. The concept found its footing quickly, and the Leawood location followed at Ranch Mart in summer 2021.

For Thurston, FIFA World Cup 26TM is both a business opportunity and a point of hometown pride. He has watched

summer salt Ice Cream

(816) 398-2072 / 3808 W. 95th St. / Ranch Mart Shopping Center

Kansas City grow and evolve over the years into a city that can hold its own on a national stage—and now, on a global one.

“Having the World Cup in Kansas City is an amazing achievement for the city,” he says. “We have had tremendous growth over the past 10 to 15 years, and the chance to welcome people from different countries to see what great things our city has to offer will be special.”

Thurston’s grant will help him expand Summer Salt’s social media presence and digital marketing reach, with a particular focus on promoting the specialty flavors the shop is developing for the tournament. Each flavor will be inspired by one of the countries represented at the FIFA World Cup 26TM, a sweet tribute to the cultures visiting Kansas City this summer. The flavors will be exclusive to the tournament window, making a stop at Summer Salt not just a treat, but a limitedtime experience tied to a once-in-a-generation event.

When Thurston imagines an international visitor walking through Summer Salt’s door, he sees it as more than a transaction. It’s a small but meaningful exchange between Kansas City and the world.

“Seeing people from different backgrounds and cultures spending time in our city will show that we are a welcoming and accommodating city that can be a destination on the world stage,” he says.

Talk of the Town, $4,250

Janez Lomshek has seen what international soccer does to a city. He’s been there. Lomshek is the majority owner of Talk of the Town, the neighborhood bar and grill that started in Overland Park in 1987 and opened its Leawood location in 2011. And Lomshek himself is an international soccer fan with a deeper connection to the pinnacle of the soccer world than most locals. When Croatia made its legendary run to the 1998 FIFA World CupTM semifinals in France, he was in Croatia, watching matches with thousands of people packed into a town square. He understands how the communal joy of such a moment lives in memory long after the final whistle. He has watched matches in village squares in Austria, where every town seemed to have its own screen, its own crowd and its own moment.

FIFA World Cup 2026™ at a Glance

FIFA World Cup 2026™ is the largest in the tournament’s history. Additionally, it’s the first to be hosted by three nations and the first to feature 48 teams competing in 104 matches. The tournament runs from June 11 through July 19, with the final match taking place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Sixteen cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico will host matches, grouped into three geographic regions:

• Western Region (Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles)

• Central Region (Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City)

• Eastern Region (Atlanta, Miami, Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey)

The opening match will be played June 11 at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, one of soccer’s most celebrated venues. Kansas City will host six matches in total, including a quarterfinal on July 4.

leawood

talk of the town

(785) 550-5654 / 5201 W. 135th St.

“I don’t know if Kansas City fans realize how big the World Cup is internationally,” Lomshek says. He does. And now, for the first time, he gets to bring that world to his own front door.

Talk of the Town has long been a go-to spot for soccer viewing in the area, but this tournament feels on a different scale. With national team home bases for Argentina, England, the Netherlands and Algeria located near the Leawood area, Lomshek is expecting the neighborhood to buzz with international fans for weeks.

“I truly believe it’s going to be quite crazy and quite busy during that month,” he says.

Talk of the Town’s grant will provide patio furniture upgrades, stonework repairs long on Lomshek’s to-do list, booth improvements, and interior painting in the dining room. But he’s already thinking beyond the basics. As matches draw closer, Lomshek plans to erect an outdoor tent for U.S. matches, complete with a projection TV. It’s a nod to the European atmosphere he experienced abroad, brought to life on a Leawood patio.

“I want to have that European atmosphere,” he says, “where you’re outside watching the match, surrounded by people who care about the game.”

He’s also preparing to welcome guests who may not speak English. His plan for doing so is among the more inventive of the grant recipients. QR code menus will be available in multiple languages and will display pricing in local currencies such as Japanese yen, euros, and Argentine pesos. This thoughtful accommodation ensures that no visitor feels lost, confused, or unwelcome. It’s small details like these that turn a one-time visit into a lasting memory.

“We want to be very welcoming to the international community,” Lomshek says.

For a man who has experienced FIFA World CupTM from a town square in Croatia, the idea of watching it unfold from his own bar carries a particular weight.

“Talk of the Town is community,” he says. “We want to be the place for FIFA World Cup 2026TM. A place for people to come and watch the matches and to showcase the best of Kansas City.”

Also Among the Recipients

Five businesses tell a big part of this story, but the full picture includes three more Leawood establishments that received Business Readiness Grants. These businesses, too, are preparing in their own ways for the summer ahead.

Bruú Café - $8,000

(913) 596-6188 / 5225 W. 116th Place / Park Place

An Asian- and woman-owned bubble tea shop at Park Place, Bruú Café was born from its founder’s late-night kitchen experiments and travels across Thailand, Taiwan, and Japan. What began at Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza has grown into a multi-location concept, with the Leawood shop nestled in Park Place alongside several other grant recipients. Bruú’s award, the second largest in the program, will support expanded indoor and outdoor seating, a new bakery display case, and enhanced marketing. For a shop whose international sensibility and Asian-inspired menu feel tailormade for a global audience, the timing couldn’t be better.

Ice Cream Bae - $6,000 (913) 335-5968 / 5260 W. 116th Place / Park Place

Since launching in 2018, Ice Cream Bae has built a loyal following with its visually striking cones, Eastern Asian–inspired flavors, and creative mix-in combinations that turn an ice cream order into an experience. The Leawood location at Park Place shares the neighborhood with several other grant recipients, making the stretch of shops a natural destination for visitors exploring the area.

The grant will fund additional interior and exterior seating, enhanced signage, and an ADA-accessible bar top to ensure that all guests can comfortably use the counter for service. These improvements are designed to make the shop as welcoming to a first-time visitor from overseas as it is to a Leawood regular.

Brown Suga - $6,000 (913) 261-9184 / 11529 Ash St.

The story of Brown Suga begins with a mother’s bet. Sisters Ebony Paul-Harris and Asia Lockett started baking cookies during the pandemic in 2020, insisting it was just a hobby. Their mother, Reba Paul, disagreed.

She made them a wager. She’d take sample packages around to people they didn’t know, and if the cookie care packages turned into orders, the sisters had to start a business. Every last package turned into an order.

Brown Suga opened its first retail location in Olathe in 2023 and opened its second at Leawood’s Park Place in February 2026, making this grant part of its Leawood launch story.

The award will fund upgraded ovens and mixers to increase baking capacity and streamline production, ensuring the shop can keep up with demand during what promises to be a very sweet summer.

Leawood’s Moment

Taken together, the eight grant recipients represent something larger than any individual business. They are coffee shops and cookie shops, boutiques and bars, ice cream stands and creative studios. Some are decades-old Leawood favorites; others are just hitting their stride. But they all share the same belief. When the world comes to Kansas City this summer, Leawood will not just be ready. It will be exceptional.

The Leawood For the Goal! initiative extends well beyond the grants. The city has planned community watch parties, a 3v3 soccer tournament, volunteer community cleanups, and more. But at its most personal level, the program is about something simpler than economics or infrastructure. It’s about a visitor from Argentina or Japan or the Netherlands wandering into a Leawood shop they’ve never heard of, being greeted warmly, and leaving with something they will long remember. It might be a great meal or cup of coffee, a warm smile, a

handmade keepsake, or a thoughtful gesture. The initiative is about making sure every international visitor who crosses a Leawood doorway feels seen, served, and welcomed.

Council member Peppes is already thinking about what will come after the busy summer season.

“Programs like these help businesses invest in improvements that enhance their spaces, improve operations, and create a better experience for customers,” he says. “That benefits residents today and helps ensure those businesses remain successful for years to come.”

FIFA World Cup 2026TM is the catalyst, but the investment is meant to outlast the tournament.

Long after the final match is played and the international visitors head home, the renovated patios, upgraded kitchens, multilingual menus, and expanded seating will remain. And so will the stories.

“FIFA World Cup 2026 is a once-in-a-generation moment for our region,” Peppes says. “For communities like Leawood, it’s an opportunity to be part of something that will draw international attention to Kansas City and to showcase the quality of our local businesses and the strength of our community.”

In other words: Leawood For the Goal!

Celebrate international soccer

Leawood prepares for the FIFA World Cup 2026TM and everything that comes with it!

By Beth Kornegay

As Kansas City prepares for FIFA World Cup 2026TM, Leawood is also aiming to engage each citizen and business in the soccer excitement as international teams and fans converge in the Midwest.

Beth Breitenstein, Director of Strategic Communications for the City of Leawood, says the city has been collaborating with the KC2026 team, Johnson County and other partners since the tournament location was announced last year. In particular, there is a strong focus on public safety, traffic management, and transportation coordination.

“Major global events like this require thoughtful preparation, and our priority is making sure our community is ready. At the same time, we are excited about the opportunity this moment presents for our outstanding local businesses,” Breitenstein says.

The Leawood Chamber of Commerce and the City of Leawood have been working closely for more than a year to create excitement and to make the most of the international event. Here are some of the exciting programs being planned as part of the city’s Leawood For the Goal! events and initiatives:

SHOP/DINE LEAWOOD

event coming to our front door, the program is intended to be a legacy initiative for years to come.

Leawood city council member Julie Cain has been working on this project for more than a year and is excited to see it come to fruition. The coupon book was created to support community goodwill, promote tourism, and drive awareness and foot traffic to every Leawood and Chamber of Commerce business.

Launching in conjunction with the Leawood For the Goal! events in June and July, the ShopDineLeawood. com website will list and describe

will host a community celebration of soccer June 12–14, featuring three days of fast-paced 3v3 tournaments at Leawood City Park, where thousands of young athletes have honed their skills for nearly 50 years.

The event will include both youth and adult tournaments. Winners in the youth division will have a once-in-alifetime chance to play against Sporting KC legends Matt Besler, Tim Melia, and Graham Zusi. Besler is the former Sporting KC Team captain and Leawood resident. Many of his Captains Soccer Club members will be competing in the youth division.

Each resident, visitor, and business is invited to connect with local businesses through a free electronic coupon book developed specifically for FIFA World Cup 2026TM events. The ShopDineLeawood.com website will feature participating businesses offering promotions and special savings. These items will be listed alphabetically by category with a searchable map. Inspired by the world’s largest sporting

each participating business. Residents and visitors are encouraged to use the website beginning in June to connect with businesses while out and about in Leawood this summer. Window clings will be displayed at those businesses, and at least one giveaway or coupon from participating businesses will be used for prizes during Leawood’s For the Goal! events.

If you’d like your businesses to be part of the Shop/Dine Leawood program, contact council member Julie Cain via email at jcain@leawood.org for more information.

3v3 SOCCER TOURNAMENT

With soccer on people’s minds, Leawood

The KC Current will also bring activities to the tournament, with details announced at a later date. Chris Reid, co-owner and General Manager of Alloy Personal Training, is working with the City of Leawood and the Leawood Chamber of Commerce to help organize the Leawood 3v3 soccer tournament. His goal is to create a community-wide celebration around the excitement of the FIFA World Cup 2026TM coming to Kansas City with opportunities for participants of all abilities which he feels truly reflects the inclusive, community-driven spirit of the FIFA World Cup 2026TM

“Hosting World Cup matches in Kansas City is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our region, and the City of Leawood is embracing that moment in a big way. The 3v3 tournament is designed to bring the community together around the sport that will have the world’s attention this summer. Whether you’re playing, cheering, or just coming out to enjoy the festival atmosphere, it’s going to be a really special weekend for Leawood and for soccer fans across the metro,” Reid says.

The tournaments will include fun, fast matches, as well as food, music, a demonstration by the Leawood Fire Department, and other family-friendly activities throughout the celebration. NBKC Bank is the title sponsor of this event and will host activities throughout the tournament.

Special Olympics Kansas soccer players are also in the lineup. For more than 50 years, Special Olympics Kansas has worked to promote social inclusion, break down stereotypes, and share diverse perspectives through the love of 21 different sports, including soccer.

MATCH DAY EVENTS

For soccer fans who want to catch the excitement of the events without attending a game, the City of Leawood is planning public events on match days to bring neighbors, families, and visitors together in a safe, welcoming environment.

On June 16, a match-day event at Park Place will feature activities for adults and children. Restaurants in the area will offer food and beverages for purchase. Festivities begin at 6 p.m., with kickoff at 8 p.m. The match, televised live from GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on three screens, will offer an early look at Argentina, the defending FIFA World Cup 2026TM champions, as they face North African contender Algeria.

A July 11 tailgate party at Town Center Plaza | Crossing will feature family-friendly activities, music, and local food and beverage options. Closer to the event, the new owners of Town Center Plaza | Crossing will share exciting updates, including announcements of new tenants.

COMMUNITY CLEANUP

Another way Leawood is getting ready to welcome the world to the city is through a community cleanup initiative.

Each weekend in April, May, and June, citizens are encouraged to walk trails and city streets to pick up trash and debris. Those interested can visit www. LeawoodForTheGoal.com to sign up. Community members are encouraged to pick up items they see while out with the family dog or while walking with children to school. Scout troops, family members and community groups are encouraged to participate to put that extra sparkle on Leawood’s major thoroughfares.

FOR THE GOAL BUSINESS READINESS GRANT PROGRAM

The City of Leawood also offered a program to help local businesses prepare for international visitors and increased traffic that the world’s biggest sporting event will undoubtedly bring to the area. For the Goal Business Readiness Grants were designed to celebrate the Leawood community and ensure that local businesses are ready

to reflect all that Leawood represents to the world. Read more about the grant program on page 20.

The grants were intended to support improvements to exterior and interior accessibility, customer flow, operational capacity, and overall visitor experience. The goals are to improve each visitor’s experience and to accommodate the increase in international tourism that the FIFA World Cup 2026TM will bring to the area.

A total of $50,000 in grants was distributed to local businesses in March. Grants ranged from $4,200 to $10,000 to fund everything from additional seating, interior painting, expanded point-ofsale systems, marketing efforts, and equipment upgrades.

Leawood Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Meyer says she sees firsthand how the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026TM event has energized both the business community and residents with its stop in Kansas City.

“This is more than a global sporting event. It’s a tremendous opportunity to showcase Leawood’s vibrancy, hospitality, and strong local economy to an international audience,” Meyer says. “Our community is ready to welcome visitors from around the world with open arms, and we are proud to play a role in rolling out the red carpet and ensuring their experience in our metropolitan area is exceptional.”

Leawood Mayor Marc Elkins says planning for these events began in December 2025 when the city launched its “Leawood For the Goal!” brand, which has quickly grown into a shared source of excitement, pride, and connection across the entire community.

“This global event and our initiatives around it are about more than soccer. It’s about bringing people together and inviting the world to see the place we call home. Equally important, it’s an opportunity for us all to celebrate what makes Leawood a great place to live, work, and gather,” Elkins says.

Don’t forget dates for

SOCCER FANS!

WEEKENDS IN APRIL/MAY/JUNE

JULY 4

Organized community cleanups along State Line Road and other major thoroughfares in Leawood. Sign up at www. LeawoodForTheGoal.com.

JUNE 12–14

3v3 soccer tournament at Leawood City Park, presented by NBKC Bank

JUNE 16

Match day event at Park Place

Independence Day celebration includes a morning parade at Tomahawk Creek Parkway, followed by evening fireworks and patriotic music in Leawood City Park. Shuttle service begins at noon and is available throughout the day.

JULY 11

Match day event at Town Center Plaza

Most current information and details are available at www.LeawoodForTheGoal.com.

A Leawood Superfan’s

GLOBAL JOURNEY

Soccer quickly becomes a passion and a ticket to other cultures.

By Jill Dutton Photographs by Sarah Reeves

On a summer day in 1998, in a quiet stretch of old Leawood, Pat Ryan wandered across the street for a glass of wine and walked into something that would change the rhythm of his life.

His neighbor, a French chef named Philippe, had invited him over to watch the FIFA World CupTM.

“I was like, I don’t want to go over there and watch a bunch of guys diving on the ground pretending they’re injured,” Ryan says, laughing. “But I’ll come over and drink some wine with you.”

He stayed for another game. Then another day. By the end of the tournament, he wasn’t just watching. He was asking where to find more.

“It spiraled out of control,” he says. “It just became an obsession after that.”

Four years later, when the tournament moved to Asia, Ryan was waking up at 2 a.m. to watch matches alone, building playlists of national songs to match the teams on screen. By 2006, he had a plan. He was going to Germany.

What began as a personal pilgrimage quickly grew into something bigger. Friends invited friends. High school buddies called college buddies. The group ballooned to more than 50 people traveling together.

Then came the Elvis suits.

“I said, ‘Guys, we’re going to wear our Elvis suits to Germany,’” Ryan says. “When you put that on, everybody wants a piece of funny.”

About 20 of them did just that, turning stadium entrances and city squares into impromptu photo ops. The costumes became a calling card, a way to connect with strangers in a sea of national colors.

“We found this great recipe of going to World Cups,” he says. “The Elvis thing just became extra frosting on the cake.”

Chasing a Feeling

Since that first trip, Ryan has followed the FIFA World CupTM across continents, chasing what he describes as a feeling more than a sport. Still, Germany remains the gold standard, he says.

“It was the first one. It was in Western Europe. There are so many different cultures that can collide,” he says. “That’ll never be duplicated.”

He has stood in stadiums in South Africa, Brazil, Russia and Qatar, each offering a different version of the same global phenomenon. Some were logistically challenging. Others surprised him.

“Russia was really special. It almost was as good as Germany, which is shocking,” he says. “A lot of times what you read in the media is not truth.”

What keeps him coming back isn’t a deep knowledge of formations or even a firm grasp of every rule.

“I don’t really know the rules of offsides that well,” he says. “What has hooked me has just been the passion of the national fans.”

Inside a FIFA World CupTM stadium, that passion becomes something physical.

“It was like being at a concert,” he says, recalling a match between Senegal and Poland. “The Senegal drums were going nonstop for two hours. There was this beat that infected the whole stadium.”

“It’s like a college football atmosphere, but better.”

Watching People

The crowds themselves are part of the spectacle. Ryan describes them as a kind of moving atlas, where each country brings its own personality.

“The Argentinians are kind of an aggressive passion. The Brazilians are dancing friendly passion. The Irish are a funny passion,” he says. “Each country kind of has its own vibe.”

And then there are the quieter gestures that stay with him.

“The Japanese pick up all the trash in the stadium after the game,” he says. “They’re so honorable and nice.”

For Ryan, the tournament has become a crash course in culture.

Premier Senior Living In Leawood

“The world is going to be coming to us. It’s going to be a great opportunity lost if we don’t get out of our own ZIP code to just see some other cultures.”

–PAT RYAN

“If you were lousy at history or didn’t have any interest in culture, this is a good way to rewire your brain,” he says.

Becoming a Collector

At home, that global journey lives on in a collection that doubles as a personal archive.

Ryan owns around 50 jerseys from countries he has visited, often acquired through spontaneous trades with fellow fans on trains or planes.

“It’s kind of like a passport,” he says. “You’re showing who you’re supporting.”

One of his favorite items is a ring that doubles as a bottle opener, given to him by a German man he met years earlier on a train in the Czech Republic.

The man had loaned him money for a ticket when Ryan was short on cash. They stayed in touch, and years later reunited at a FIFA World CupTM match in Germany.

“I feel like Frodo with it,” Ryan says of the ring. For all the miles traveled, the next chapter of Ryan’s superfan story will unfold close to home.

When he learned that FIFA World Cup 2026TM would bring matches to Kansas City, he went downtown alone to watch the announcement.

“I witnessed when they announced Kansas City won it,” he says. “It was so fun and joyful.”

He believes most people in the region don’t yet realize what’s coming.

“This is going to be the greatest 39 consecutive days of Kansas City’s culture ever,” he says. “There will never be another seven-week period like this.”

He imagines the city transformed by waves of international visitors, with downtown serving as the center of it all.

“It’s just going to infect everybody with happiness and joy,” he says. “Even if you don’t know what offsides means, you’re going to have a blast.”

He encourages locals to lean in, to take time off work if they can, to wander through fan zones and watch matches on big screens surrounded by strangers who feel like friends.

“The world is going to be coming to us,” he says. “It’s going to be a great opportunity lost if we don’t get out of our own ZIP code to just see some other cultures.”

Ryan still plans to attend matches, even if it means tracking down tickets at the last minute. And yes, the Elvis suit will likely make another appearance.

“I’m still immature,” he says with a chuckle.

But beneath the humor is something more lasting. What started as skepticism has turned into a lifelong pursuit of connection, curiosity and shared experience.

“The good thing about FIFA World Cup is it brings people together,” Ryan says.

Nearly three decades after that first invitation across the street, he’s still following the same instinct. Say yes. Show up. See what happens next.

Celebrate the Fourth

Leawood’s patriotic festivities include the return of a city parade.

By Beth Kornegay

Photographs courtesy City of Leawood

During the FIFA World Cup 2026TM, when visitors will be converging in the Kansas City area, the United States will celebrate 250 years of independence. To commemorate this significant milestone and share our American pride with visitors from around the world, the City of Leawood has planned a full day of events to mark the occasion.

An Independence Day parade will kick off the day and wind along the newly reconstructed and enhanced Tomahawk Creek Parkway. The parade’s floats, bands, and community groups will provide an exciting, family-friendly beginning to the Independence Day celebrations.

The City of Leawood has not hosted a community parade in 15 years, and this 250th anniversary of our nation’s birth is the perfect opportunity to reinstate this much-loved tradition. While some neighborhoods and home associations hold their own Fourth of July parades, this year’s milestone anniversary— as well as the FIFA World Cup 2026TM’s stop in the Kansas City metropolitan area—made the timing right for a city-wide parade.

Any individuals or groups interested in participating in the parade can sign up at leawood.org/parade. Disc jockeys, food trucks, and restrooms will be set up in parking lots, and families are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to enjoy the parade.

Leawood City Hall, 4800 Town Center Drive; Leawood Library, 4700 Town Center Drive; the American Academy of Physicians, 11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway (only accessible from 114th Street); and Busey Bank, 11440 Tomahawk Creek Parkway.

Live music always gets the crowd jazzed.

The Leawood Aquatic Center, at 10601 Lee Boulevard, will be open on July 4 from noon until 5 p.m. Normal admission pricing will be in effect, and the pool will only be accessible via shuttle.

Among the live musicians performing on July 4, local band Flashback will play at 6 p.m. Popular at corporate events and weddings, Flashback performs songs for every taste—from disco/funk to pop to country to classic rock and Motown. Other bands and a DJ will be providing music throughout the day.

The day’s highlight will be the evening events at Leawood City Park, featuring a fireworks display synchronized to patriotic music honoring America’s semiquincentennial. In addition to food trucks, family-friendly activities will include a photo booth alongside a lineup of artists ready to provide airbrushed and henna tattoos, caricatures, face painting, balloon art, and even crazy hair. All entertainment is free. The event will conclude around 11 p.m.

A complimentary shuttle service will bring attendees to and from the pool and evening events at City Park. Pickup locations are at the Justice Center and the American Academy of Family Physicians (via access off of 114th Street), with drop-off at The Wave @106 at City Park. Lawn chairs, strollers, and coolers may be brought onto the shuttles for ease of transportation. Those shuttles will run continuously from noon until all attendees have been returned to their cars after the fireworks display. No alcohol or personal fireworks are allowed in the park.

Leawood resident Karen Ward Reimer has attended the annual Fourth of July fireworks display with her family for the past 30 years. She has seen families plan their Fourth of July weekend around the fireworks and enjoys seeing people walk to the park with kids in wagons, bringing along blankets and refreshments to enjoy while the children play on the playground.

“We are so excited about the celebration this year because they have brought back the parade. My family remembers being in the parade on decorated bicycles and tricycles, so it will be fun reminiscing … and seeing new young families begin making those memories for their own families,” she says.

42 | leawood

Visitors will find a lot of family and kid-friendly activities during the evening celebration.

Food and fun for everyone is the name of the game during the Leawood City celebration of the Fourth of July!

Leawood Events

APRIL

Weekends in April/May/June

Community clean-ups

Clean-ups organized along State Line Road and other major thoroughfares in Leawood. Sign up at www. LeawoodForTheGoal.com.

April 24

Earth Day at the Prairie Oak Nature Center

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Prairie Oaks Nature Center Free

Celebrate Mother Earth and all of nature. Enjoy earthy crafts and take home a free tree seedling!

April 25

Kids Fishing Derby

8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Tomahawk Creek Parkway, North Lake Free

Bring your own pole and learn to fish! Bobbers and bait will be provided. The derby and prizes are for ages 15 and under, but all are welcome to join the fun! Hosted by the Leawood Police Department and Leawood Parks, Recreation & Arts.

April 25, May 23, June 27, July 25

The Road to Independence 10 a.m. | Leawood Community Center, Oak Room Free

Another in the speaker series focused on the United States’ 250th anniversary. The series spotlights events leading to the early years of the U.S. as an independent nation.

MAY

May 23

Games in the Green

2 p.m. to 5 p.m. | I-Lan Park Residents, $5; nonresidents, $7. Registration required. It’s a day of board games, snacks and fun for the entire family. Register here: https:// KSLeawoodWeb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/iteminfo. html?Module=AR&FMID=49267695

JUNE

June 2, June 9, June 16, June 23

Grinnin’ & Groovin’ Summer Entertainment Series 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. | The Lodge at Ironwoods Free

This summer entertainment series offers fun for the kids. June 2 features Mr. Stinky Feet; June 9, Mad Science ‘Up, Up & Away’; June 16, Coterie Theatre, “Pete the Cat”; and June 23, What if Puppets, “T-Rex Took My Toothbrush.”

JUNE

June 12–14

3v3 Soccer Tournaments

Leawood City Park

Presented by NBKC Bank, the tourneys will include both youth and adult teams. For more go to www.LeawoodForTheGoal.com

June 16

Match Day Watch Party 6 p.m. | Park Place

June 16, June 20, June 25, June 27

FIFA World Cup 2026™

Various times | Kansas City Stadium (GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium)

For group stage play, it will be Argentina vs. Algeria on June 16, Ecuador vs. Curacao on June 20, Tunisia vs Netherlands on June 25, and Algeria vs. Austria on June 27. For more details, go to www.LeawoodForTheGoal.com

JULY

July 3, July 11

FIFA World Cup 2026™

Various times | Kansas City Stadium (GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium)

A match for the knockout Round of 32 will be played July 3, and a quarterfinal match will be played in Kansas City on July 11. For more details, go to www.LeawoodForTheGoal.com

July 4

Independence Day Celebration in the Park

6 p.m. | City Park Free

Celebrate 250 years of the United States of America! This event features free activities, live music, food trucks, a fireworks display, and more.

Activities include carnival rides & games, inflatables, facepainting, henna tattoos, balloon art, caricatures and a photo booth. Local band Flashback will provide live music, and the food trucks will begin serving at 6 p.m. The Aquatic Center will be open from 11:30 to 5 p.m. (normal rates apply) with a special inflatable slide.

Find parking at the American Academy of Family Physicians and Leawood City Hall; beginning at noon, complimentary shuttles will pick up passengers from those lots and deliver them to Leawood City Park. No public parking will be available at the City Park. For rideshares, 105th and Lee Boulevard is the designated drop-off and pick-up spot. No personal fireworks, alcohol or grills will be permitted. www.LeawoodForTheGoal.com/IndependenceDayinLeawood www.Leawood.org/558/Independence-Day-Celebration-in-the-Park

July 11

Town Center Tailgate

For more details, www.LeawoodForTheGoal.com/matchdayevents

City Resources

WHAT EVERY NEW LEAWOOD RESIDENT NEEDS TO KNOW.

City of Leawood

Municipal Government

4800 Town Center Drive

Leawood, KS 66211 913-339-6700 www.Leawood.org

Public Works

913-663-9131

publicworks@leawood.org Leawood.org/publicworks

Home Owners Association

913-339-6700, ext. 103 is@leawood.org Leawood.org/hoa

Pet Ownership Rules

913-663-9123 Leawood.org/pets

UTILITIES

Electric

Evergy 816-471-5275 www.evergy.com

Natural Gas

Kansas Gas Service

800-794-4780 www.kansasgasservice.com

Water

WaterOne 913-895-1800 www.waterone.org

Sewer

Johnson County Wastewater

913-715-8500 www.jocogov.org/department/wastewater

Internet

AT&T

833-404-0279 www.att.com/local/internet/kansas/leawood

Google Fiber

844-363-4237 www.fiber.google.com

Spectrum 855-366-7132

www.spectrum.com/internet-service/kansas/leawood

Home Telephone

AT&T

800-288-2020 www.att.com/home-phone/landline

Spectrum 855-366-7132 www.spectrum.com/home-phone

Cable

AT&T 800-288-2020

Spectrum 855-366-7132

Trash

Home Owners Associations contract and coordinate trash services for residents. Visit the HOA section of the City of Leawood website or call City Hall at 913-339-6700 or Public Works at 913-663-9130.

BY KARI WILLIAMS

Stephanie Meyer President and CEO

StephanieM@leawoodchamber.org

Taylor Limoges Vice President of Programming & Communications TaylorL@leawoodchamber.org

Mike McKenna Leawood Chamber’s 2026 Board Chair Affinis Corp.

Leawood Chamber Staff

AdventHealth www.AdventHealthKC.com 913-676-2000

Affinis Corp www.affinis.us 913-239-1100 Bank of Blue Valley www.bankbv.com 877-280-1862

BCCM Construction www.bccmconstruction.com 816-659-9115

Block Real Estate Services LLC www.blockllc.com 816-756-1400

Busey Bank www,busey.com 800-672-8739

CBIZ www.cbiz.com 816-945-5500

City of Leawood www.leawood.org 913-339-6700

Commerce Bank www.commercebank.com 816-234-1759

Complete Construction www.complete.build 913-353-9178

Contract Furnishings www.contractfurnishings.com 816-931-0900

Country Club Bank www.ccbfinancial.com/ countryclubbank 816-751-4251

Cuvee KC www.cuveekc.com

DEMDACO www.demdaco.com 888-336-3226

Evergy www.evergy.com 888-471-5275

JE Dunn Construction www.jedunn.com 816-474-8600

Johnson County Community College www.jccc.edu 913-469-8500

Johnson County Management www.jcmre.com/wp 913-649-0123

Martin Pringle Attorneys at Law www.martinpringle.com 913-491-5500

Menorah Medical Center www.hcamidwest.com/locations/ menorah-medical-center 913-498-6000

Musselman & Hall Contractors www.musselmanandhall.com 816-861-1234

Oddo Development www.oddodevelopment.com 913-894-6336

Olsson www.olsson.com 913-748-2574

Polsinelli PC www.polsinelli.com 816-572-4502

Reece Commercial Real Estate www.reececommercial.com 913-652-4300

Saint Luke’s Health System www.saintlukeskc.org 816-932-8160

Security Bank of Kansas City www.securitybankkc.com 913-281-3165

StrongBox Wealth www.strongboxwealth.com 816-607-5410

Sunflower Bank www.sunflowerbank.com 913-232-7100

Town Center Plaza • Crossing www.towncenterplaza.com 913-498-1111

UMB Bank www.umb.com 816-860-7000 (KCMO location)