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FC Kansas City To Face Off Against Seattle In National Championship

John Reiger
/
FC Kansas City

Move over, Royals – there's another local team that's hot right now.

Women's soccer club FC Kansas City will play the Seattle Reign at 2 p.m. CST Sunday in the National Women's Soccer League championship after beating the Portland Thorns last weekend in the semi-finals.

"We got knocked out early last year in the semi-finals at home against Portland, so we avenged that loss," says Scott Levinson, vice president of business operations. "The whole goal and mission for the team this year was to finish what we started last year, which is win a championship."

Levinson says while most Kansas Citians are excited about the Royals' winning streak or the Chiefs' new season, there's a core of devoted soccer fans here who know what a big deal the NWSL championship is.

"Some of the top players in the world actually come and play in Kansas City, and some of the top players in the world actually play on FC Kansas City," says Levinson.

He says he expects there will be even more interest in FC Kansas City next year when the Women's World Cup is played in Canada.

"We know we're not going to get the frenzy the men's team did this year, but we know it's going to come close because the U.S. women will be favored next year," says Levinson. 

If FC Kansas City wins Sunday, it'll be the third national soccer title for the city after wins for Sporting KC and the Missouri Comets in the past year.

Elle Moxley covered education for KCUR.
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