Wizards hope large watch parties help prove Kansas City ready host the World Cup

Hundreds of soccer fans played hooky Friday morning to catch the World Cup in the Kansas City Power & Light District.

They were joined by Wizards players, owners and managers who watched the United States play to a 2-2 tie with Slovenia .

Wizards co-owner Robb Heineman says watch parties like this one help prove Kansas City is a true soccer city. KC is still in the running to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022.

Last Saturday, Heineman says Kansas City had the second largest watch party in the country after Los Angeles.

He says the new $180 million stadium which is set to open in Village West next summer will also help our chances of playing host.

But there are a couple of obstacles. Heineman says we're lacking hotels and public transportation.

Kansas City is one of 18 cities competing right now and by the fall, we'll know if we are in the final 14.

The Wizards are confident our watch parties will only get bigger.

"By the time this month is over, we will have hosted the largest world cup watch in the U.S. There were 8,000 people last week during U.S. vs. England. You look at events like this today and it shows the growth of the game in KC is alive and well," said Heineman.