Exporting KC to the world: Esports leader revs come-from-behind global takeover amid World Cup’s big draw
December 6, 2025 | Austin Barnes
As the metro bundled up and showed out Friday, getting its latest taste of what the 2026 World Cup has in store, the Kansas City Pioneers dropped new heat — raising the thermostat on their commitment to seize the moment brought forth by the global gathering as a net for esports.
A fan stands tall amid a crowd gathered in the Live! Block at Power and Light for Kansas City’s FIFA World Cup Final Draw rally; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
“Now is the time for Kansas City to rally,” declared Sam Kulikov, Pioneers co-founder and chief marketing officer, as the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw played out Friday morning.
With teams from Germany, Ecuador, Curaçao, the Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Argentina, Austria, Algeria, and Jordan now known to be in the running to play matches held in KC next summer — the Pioneers have already entered the global chat on the city’s behalf, Kulikov explained, touting the team’s world-spanning roster of esports all-stars anticipated to score big for KC later this month.
Click here to follow the KC Pioneers on Instagram.
(A more detailed FIFA World Cup match schedule for Kansas City was expected to be revealed Saturday.)
David Morgenrood of South Africa — known by esports fans as 2Die4 and who currently plays for the Pioneers in the Rocket League Championship Series — will be behind the joystick on the global stage in Saudi Arabia during the Rocket League World Cup Dec. 15-19, part of the FIFAe Finals; photo courtesy of the KC Pioneers
Twenty-year-old David Morgenrood of South Africa, known by fans as 2Die4 — who currently plays for the Pioneers in the Rocket League Championship Series — will be behind the joystick for his home country on the global stage in Saudi Arabia during the Rocket League World Cup December 15-19 — part of the FIFAe Finals.
“With FIFA officially entering the Rocket League space via the ‘FIFAe World Cup,’ the lines between traditional soccer and digital soccer have dissolved,” Kulikov said.
“Our organization is proving that Kansas City isn’t just a destination for sports — it’s a global hub for competition, physical or digital.”
And the Pioneers hope to stake claim as the digital welcoming committee for Kansas City, he added.
The team on Friday dropped its latest Rocket League decal — a collectible in-game car design that players can purchase and apply to display a team’s branding — which boasts bright, prismatic colors and is inspired by the graffiti culture of the Crossroads Arts District and aims to immerse an international audience in the richness of Kansas City culture ahead of the global showdown.
KC Pioneers dropped visual teasers showing a newly released Rocket League decal that reflects an homage to the Kansas City Crossroads’ graffiti culture; image courtesy of the KC Pioneers
“The Crossroads represents the grit and creativity of Kansas City,” he said. “It’s where old brick warehouses meet neon spray paint. We wanted our car to look like it drove through 18th & Grand at 100 MPH and caught that energy. It’s not just a paint job — it’s a reflection of our origins.”
The new Crossroads’ graffiti-inspired decal just dropped by the KC Pioneers for Rocket League competitions; image courtesy of KC Pioneers
When a player in France or Brazil equips the decal within the game, they’re interacting directly with the history of Kansas City, Kulikov noted, creating an opportunity to form attachment to the city — and generate excitement to visit it.
“By putting this Crossroads-inspired decal into the hands of [about] 100 million players, we are introducing the world to Kansas City’s visual identity well before [soccer] fans arrive at Arrowhead Stadium,” he said, adding that if Kansas City can be considered the soccer capital of America, the Pioneers are proving it can hail acclaim as its esports capital too.
“The synergy is undeniable. As KC prepares to host the world in 2026, the Pioneers are already there digitally, warming up the crowd.”
View this post on Instagram
Featured Business
2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Watch: Nomad App founders ‘scratching our own itch’ with travel tech
After an inspiring but at times complicated adventure in Latin America, the founders of a Kansas City startup are aiming to ease the burdens of traveling to exotic locales. During a Central- and South-American tour of more than 5,500 miles, Nomad App co-founder Juan Campos said his team realized there are common logistical challenges for…
New, wireless Google project could make KC the most connected city on earth
Google apparently likes Kansas City a lot — a whole lot. Now four years after it launched its gigabit Internet service in the area, Google is planning to build a massive wireless broadband network in Kansas City that could make it one of the most connected cities on earth. Google — which already has determined the…
Five startups hop into the Digital Sandbox KC
Another batch of early-stage firms are planning to accelerate their businesses via Digital Sandbox KC. Kansas City business incubator Digital Sandbox KC on Thursday announced that five startups have received its proof-of-concept funding support. Digital Sandbox, which invests up to $25,000 in area businesses for specific projects that help the firms secure additional funding, has…
Overland Park startup Member Jets crowdsources private flights to cut costs, save time
An Overland Park tech firm is bringing charter flights to the masses with its crowdsourcing platform that reduces the costs to fly in swanky private jets. Founded in 2015, Member Jets created a private aviation community that connects travelers to discounted private flights by aggregating available seats and travel opportunities. Now used at Kansas City’s…