KANSAS CITY, Missouri — When World Cup fans arrive at Kansas City’s match venue, they are greeted by something distinctly American just steps away across the parking lot: the home ballpark of Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals.
As the World Cup draws massive international crowds, MLB has found itself as the only major U.S. sports league in the middle of its season during the tournament — making it a natural first stop for visiting fans looking to experience American sports firsthand.
Baseball clubs are eager to take advantage of the moment, even as they acknowledge the challenge of converting a passing curiosity into genuine, long-term fandom for a sport that moves at a very different pace than soccer.
“We want to open our doors to the world,” said the Royals’ president of business operations, Cullen Maxey. “We share the parking lot, so naturally we should be able to lean in on that a little bit and invite people to Royals games. We think that gives everybody a really unique opportunity to get a little taste of America.”
With the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup both concluding right as the World Cup got underway — and the NFL season still months away — baseball has emerged as the primary way for international soccer fans and players alike to get a feel for American sports culture.
Every one of the 11 U.S. cities hosting World Cup matches has an MLB franchise, and Kansas City has become one of the most visible examples of that crossover.
England captain Harry Kane and several teammates attended a Royals game during the group stage of the tournament, with head coach Thomas Tuchel even taking a turn at throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
“He had a pretty good throw. I want to say he’s got baseball in his future if he wants to,” Maxey joked. “It was amazing for everybody to have them out here and be a part of our game. I think what the England players enjoyed most was talking to our players. They’re professional athletes, they’re at the top of their game, so those relationships probably mean more to them than anything else.”
Kane himself acknowledged baseball’s appeal, noting that while he doesn’t closely follow the regular season, he enjoys the sport and has visited a couple of ballparks before.
The Royals weren’t the only team drawing international attention. In New York, Norwegian fans showed up in numbers at a Mets game. In Boston, nearly 1,000 Germany supporters attended a matchup between the Red Sox and the New York Yankees, just days after Scotland fans marched to Fenway Park and celebrated alongside Red Sox supporters. Those same Scottish fans also took in a Miami Marlins game in Florida.
Still, for many of these international visitors, the draw is more about soaking in American culture than becoming devoted baseball fans — a reality that underscores the challenge MLB faces in turning a one-time visit into ongoing interest.
Andre Rienzo, a former player for the Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins and the first Brazilian-born pitcher in MLB history, said the sport’s appeal isn’t always easy to grasp right away — especially in soccer-dominated countries like his native Brazil.
“If you read a book about the rules, you don’t understand anything,” Rienzo said. “You need to go to the game, be with someone, understand it play by play.”
At a recent Royals game, Argentine visitor Javier Lanza admitted his trip was more about the overall experience than the sport itself, noting that many of his friends attending games didn’t really understand baseball at all. Fellow Argentine Giuliano Jorge echoed that sentiment: “I prefer the NBA, but it’s kind of about the experience. I’d never been before, and since I’m in the U.S., I couldn’t pass up the chance to come.”
Rienzo encouraged newcomers to look past the slower tempo that can initially frustrate fans used to the nonstop action of soccer, suggesting they focus on the atmosphere and give the game a fair chance even if it feels slow at first.
Maxey remained optimistic that genuine interest could take root as more soccer fans spend time with the sport. “It’s an inviting atmosphere,” he said. “If you don’t know soccer, you don’t understand the beauty of the sport. If you don’t know baseball, you don’t understand the beauty of the sport.”
