How Copa America matches in KC will preview World Cup 2026 & incoming soccer crowds

The Canada Men’s National Team picked up its first-ever win at a major international soccer competition on Tuesday evening during a hot and steamy 2024 Copa America matchup with Peru at Children’s Mercy Park.

Canada triumphed 1-0 over Peru thanks to Jonathan David’s 74th-minute goal. Down a man due to a second-half red card, Peru fought and clawed to level the game and give the largely pro-Peru crowd of 11,970 something to cheer for.

But Canada’s Maxime Crepeau, who was a hero in more ways than one on Tuesday — coming to the aid of a referee who collapsed in the heat — made four saves, including two crucial late saves to keep the shutout.

With the World Cup set to play six matches in Kansas City during the summer of 2026, the two Copa America matches (including one upcoming on Monday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium) will undoubtedly serve as a test run for the biggest show in soccer.

The atmosphere was the first part of that.

One might look at Tuesday evening’s attendance number and scoff. But don’t let the crowd of less than 12,000 people fool you. The roar of the massively pro-Peru crowd at every half chance, every potential foul, every shot sounded just as loud — and sometimes louder — than a typical Sporting KC or KC Current match.

In fact, two and a half hours prior to the match, fans littered the streets surrounding Children’s Mercy Park, many wearing the famous Peru shirt, stark white with a red sash across the chest. As fans waited for the gates to open, they gathered and sang songs, chanted and let their presence be known.

It’s no slight to the Peruvians who visited Kansas City this week to note the country — and its base of supporters — will pale in comparison to some of the bigger soccer nations that could roll through Kansas City during World Cup 2026.

That crowd size — multiplied by about six to fill 70,000-plus seats at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium — will provide some of the best atmospheres of the tournament in two years.

If the Netherlands, Argentina, England or even Mexico happen to come to Kansas City in two years, be prepared for a takeover unlike anything you’ve seen.

On Tuesday night, Peru (and its fans) offered a taste of that.