KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The Kansas City Chiefs are opening their season in a place far from KC, São Paulo, Brazil, but there will be local fans at the game.
While Arrowhead Stadium is tens of thousands of miles away, around 60 die-hard fans are determined to make sure Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and the rest of the team still feel the support of the Chiefs Kingdom.
Marsha and Stephanie Buckner are among the Kansas Citians boarding long international flights for Friday’s matchup. They said this game represents more than just football – it’s about showing how far the Chiefs’ reach extends.
“The NFL is trying to expand into all of these different markets, and so by being able to host games like this and with Kansas City, I mean, I think they’re America’s team now – that people want to come and watch the Kansas City Chiefs play wherever we are,” Stephanie Buckner said.
“I’m putting my money on Chris Jones taking out the quarterback,” Marsha Buckner added.
For Ben and Terri Thompson, traveling more than 5,300 miles is about sharing a piece of Kansas City on a global stage. They said football is part of the city’s fabric in a way that rivals soccer’s popularity in Brazil.
“I hope to share that Kansas City, as well as the rest of the United States, but Kansas City in particular,” Terri Thompson said. “Like, NFL football is ingrained into our culture. It’s part of our identity, like football – soccer is in other cities and other countries.”
The fans making the trip will spend more than half a day in transit, but they believe it’s worth every mile to showcase the Kingdom abroad.
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