Kansas City’s Matt Besler looks forward to another World Cup, this time as a spectator

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Before taking the field under the bright lights of the biggest sporting event in the world, Matt Besler was a kid in Kansas City.

Besler always knew he wanted to play professional soccer, but had no idea the sport would take him to the international stage, making history as the first Kansan to ever play in the World Cup.

“When I found out I made the final 23-man roster, I was very excited,” Besler said. “Called my family right away. It’s a very fun memory to think back on.”

The Blue Valley West alum played a dozen years for his hometown team, Sporting Kansas City.

In the midst of that run, he was chosen to wear the red, white and blue in Brazil in 2014.

“It was a little bizarre,” Besler said. “There was this huge event, the biggest sport event in the world going on, and you have to perform at it. You have to be laser-focused. You kind of have to put yourself in a bubble, in a way. You’re with your team, you’re at your hotel, you go to your game, just focus on your game. Unfortunately, you miss out on some of the festivities.”

USA dropped in the round of 16 that year, 2-1 to Belgium.

This time around, he’ll soak in all the hoopla of the event as his favorite sport takes over the city he still calls home.

“I can’t wait,” he said. “I can’t wait for the people of Kansas City, for us to show off what our city’s about.”

He’ll also have a few more teammates to share it with.

“Back in 2014, I didn’t have any kids at the time, and now I’ve got three kids,” he said. “So hopefully introduce what the World Cup is to them.”

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