ABOVE: The Koch family, Zach, Millie, Lucy and Laura, at the 2026 FIFA World Cup game between Ecuador and Curaçao on Saturday, June 20, at the Kansas City Stadium in Kansas City, Miss. Submitted photo

EAST CHAIN — The 2026 FIFA World Cup features more than 1,000 soccer athletes from 48 countries competing in arenas in 16 cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The games historically bring in millions of viewers from around the world. A local family, the Kochs, Laura, Zach, and their two daughters, Lucy and Millie, were among the in-person crowds.

“I think it was a lifetime experience,” said Laura. “We felt it was a good opportunity for our kids to experience. It was lots of fun.”

One week before the trip, while Zach was watching a World Cup game on television, Lucy pitched the idea of attending a game. Initially citing the idea as implausible, the family researched avenues to watch one of the football games firsthand. Upon realizing the destination was close enough, and since the family was already thinking about ideas for a family activity, Laura, Zach, Lucy and Millie left the area for a five-and-a-half-hour drive to Kansas City, Miss., on Friday, June 19.

“We had a long weekend that was set aside for something to do as a family, but we hadn’t committed to anything. We honestly didn’t think it was something that we would be able to do. Sure enough, we were able to make everything work out. We were kind of surprised, as anybody else, that we were able to go, and it was fun,” said.

“I just think that it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If I ever go to another one, that’d be pretty crazy if I went to two. But it was a fun experience. The people were nice,” Lucy said.

The family attended and watched the Group E game between Ecuador and Curaçao national football teams, which was held on Saturday, June 20, at Kansas City Stadium.

“The whole game in general, it’s nothing like any sports that we have in the United States. Their fans are constantly cheering, constantly banging on the drums. They’re involved. It’s a different sport than our four major sports. They play two 45-minute halves, and the clock is always running. It’s 45 minutes of action, and then they take a 15-minute break, and then it’s 45 minutes of action to end the game. You know, it was a unique experience to finally see a soccer match of that making. It was cool to be around the other countries’ fans who had traveled so far to see their team play. Just a great atmosphere to be involved in,” Zach said.

In addition, the Koch family has sponsored a girl from Ecuador, whose favorite sport is football, and has communicated with her for many years. They said she has become a part of their family. During the game, they were cheering for Ecuador to win and were excited to share with her that they were wearing the colors of and rooting for her home country.

“It feels good to be able to send her something that shows her that we have a personal connection to her and her country, and that we care about her in a way that maybe transcends the geographic distance between us. I just would imagine that it creates a little bit of a bond for her to be able to open up a letter and see a photo of a family that’s wearing her country’s colors, and wearing, representing that, even though we’re from the U.S., I think that maybe creates a connection,” Laura said.

The football game concluded in a draw. From watching the athletes making multiple shots on goal to the cheers of spectators, the game was an incredible experience for the Koch family.

“It was electric,” Laura said. “The fans were amazing, very friendly, very high energy for sure. The Kansas City community was very welcoming and very warm and happy to have visitors there in their community.”

The Koch family returned home on Sunday, June 21, but the World Cup experience sticks with them.

Zach said that he had been keeping up with World Cup results and news and the family plans to watch more World Cup games from home.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is slated to continue until Sunday, July 19.