Soccer City at the Missouri History Museum will present graphics, digital interactives, films, and artifacts that tell the story of a major metropolis, a dynamic sport, and the many personalities that propelled St. Louis to the competitive forefront.

In 1875 the first recorded soccer-like game in St. Louis took place at the future site of Sportsman’s Park between teams named the Blondes and Brunettes. In 2019 the city was awarded a Major League Soccer team, the first majority female-owned club in MLS history.

In between these two dates are amateur and professional teams, victories and defeats, and periods of struggle and astounding upsets. Combined, they sealed the St. Louis region’s reputation as America’s first soccer capital. Unlike most cities, St. Louis cultivated a unique, homegrown soccer culture, with an impact that stretched beyond our nation’s borders.