Kansas City collaboration expands access to soccer ahead of World Cup arrival

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - Sporting KC and the Victory Project are working to expand access to soccer ahead of the FIFA 2026 World Cup arrival in Kansas City. The focus of their expansion is on youth blind soccer.

The Kansas State School for the Blind has the only blind soccer field in the Midwest, and one of only four in the nation. It’s enclosed and players wear blindfolds to even the playing field. Beads are added to the ball to help players follow the sound.

The supplies for the field were donated from the Victory Project.

This field allows kids to have fun and do everyday activities, with a twist. They’ve also gotten lessons from Sporting KC players.

Now, the kids are getting ready for the arrival of international players to Kansas City in 2026.

With their new knowledge and firsthand experience of the game, Blind Sports Coordinator Leah Enright says this has been a great way to get them excited. It has also instilled a new sense of confidence.

“So often we’re telling our students to slow down, use your cane, don’t move through space you know watch out for obstacles then they go on this field and we say ‘run after the ball’ and we shake the ball, they kick the ball and they hear it and they’re running out an open space,” she said. “What an experience for them to be able to use the skills that we work on in drills, actually to run out and play the game.”

The field has been open for exactly one year.

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