The dream has finally been realized. The iconic Arrowhead Stadium that plays host to the NFL juggernauts Kansas City Chiefs has hosted a World Cup soccer game. Arrowhead Stadium hosted its first ever World Cup match on TuesdayGettyKnown as the Kansas City Stadium for the 2026 World Cup due to FIFA‘s exclusive naming rights regulations, the dreams put in motion by the late Lamar Hunt has finally come into fruition, 36 years later. On Tuesday night, Kansas hosted its first game of the summer tournament, welcoming defending champions Argentina fronted by none other than Lionel Messi, and their opponents Algeria. It was a Group J match in which the 38-year-old dominated the headlines, after he notched his first ever hat trick on the World Cup stage.In doing so, on his 200th appearance for his country, Messi became the World Cup’s joint-top all-time scorer, equaling German icon Miroslav Klose‘s record of 16 goals.As if making one piece of history wasn’t enough, Messi also became the oldest player to ever score for Argentina in the World Cup, doing so exactly 20 years to the day apart from when he made his nation’s history by becoming the youngest ever goalscorer back on June 16, 2006. It was only right that Messi rolled back the years, showing why he is perhaps wasting the twilight years of his career playing for Inter Miami in the MLS, in front of arguably one of the NFL’s greatest ever quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs superstar was in attendance at Arrowhead to witness history being made, and posted to social media on a few occasions throughout the match to comment on the footballing icon, albeit via only GOAT emojis. “,” Mahomes posted after Messi scored his first goal of the encounter. “,” the three-time Super Bowl champion posted after the Argentine sealed his hat trick. Kansas City dream fulfiled after 36 yearsTo host a World Cup game at Arrowhead was the dream of the late Lamar Hunt – worth $2 billion – who vouched to have the 76,416-capacity amphitheatre host a game at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Mahomes and his wife Brittany were special guests at Kansas City Stadium ahead of the World Cup Group J match between Argentina and AlgeriaGettyMessi scored his first World Cup hat trick in front of MahomesGettyOn that occasion, though, the pursuit was in vain as the USA opted to utilize nine other stadiums instead. Fast-forward 36 years and, although Lamar is no longer here having passed away in 2006 at age 74, his son Clark continued his legacy to try and bring international soccer to Kansas City. In order to be named a host venue for the 2026 edition, the Chiefs spent millions on renovations to meet the requirements laid out by FIFA. In doing so, they upgraded their playing surface by installing an air system underneath the field to aid the quality of the grass pitch. They were rewarded by FIFA with the opportunity to host six games in the Group Stage, as well as one Round of 32 match and one of the four Quarter-Finals, ensuring that the path to the Final runs through the city. Hunt’s long-awaited dream has come true just in time, as the Chiefs are set to bid farewell to Arrowhead – their home of 50-plus years – in 2031, having agreed to move across state lines from Missouri to Kansas City. Hosting a soccer game at Arrowhead was Lamar Hunt’s dreamGettyThe road to the World Cup final will run through Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas CityGettyThere, they will be constructing a state-of-the-art domed stadium worth a projected $3billion, with the goal of one day being able to host a Super Bowl.To have finally brought World Cup football to Arrowhead, though, is the most fitting full circle moment ahead of saying goodbye to one of the USA’s most iconic stadiums. Stay up to date on all things World Cup across our talkSPORT platforms – subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest news, opinion, exclusive interviews and our daily unfiltered, unscripted show ‘The S* Word, from 8am ET.All 104 games at the 2026 World Cup this summer will be live on talkSPORT, talkSPORT 2 and the talkSPORT app.