Missouri is an interesting state when it comes to sports teams and knowing who to root for. The state is home to two of the biggest cities in the United States: St. Louis and Kansas City. These major cities both give their fan bases different options for who to support.
For this article, 24/7 Tempo consulted different outside sources. These include MLB.com, NFL.com, and NHL.com. If you’re curious to learn more about Missouri sports and beyond, click here to discover the most popular sports documentaries of all time.
Here are the most popular sports teams in Missouri:
Kansas City Chiefs
It’s no secret who the most popular team in Missouri is, the Kansas City Chiefs. Even before Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s relationship added new fans to the mix, people in Missouri turned to the Chiefs when the St. Louis Rams packed up and went to Los Angeles. Many people from St. Louis hated this move and didn’t follow the Rams.
This turned out well, as the Chiefs have been one of the greatest teams in all of sports over the last six years. They’ve been to three Super Bowls, winning two of them, and have made deep playoff runs each of Patrick Mahomes’ seasons as quarterback. The Chiefs will always have a passionate fanbase, and being one of the best teams in the sport helps.
St. Louis Cardinals
If you’re looking for one of the most well-ran organizations in sports, look no further than the St. Louis Cardinals. Their fan base is known for being one of the most passionate, smartest, and loyal. They always seem to be in the thick of playoff births and World Series titles.
They’ve had players like Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina, two first-ballot Hall of Famers when it’s officially their time. The team has been around since 1882, yet has always been based out of St. Louis. During their history, the team has won 11 World Series championships while going to 19 Fall Classics. They know exactly what it takes to win and will continue to do so at the highest level in baseball.
St. Louis Blues
There aren’t many sports stories that rival the 2018-2019 St. Louis Blues. In December, they were the worst team in the NHL and had odds of 500-1 to win the Stanley Cup. However, after firing their coach, the Blues went on one of the most remarkable runs in sports.
They got into the playoffs and behind the supreme goaltending of Jordan Binnington, beat the Boston Bruins in seven games to clinch their first ever Stanley Cup championship. Even though the Blues haven’t won a championship since, they’ve been in the playoffs every year and are always looking to add players to help the cause. Winning in hockey is one of the hardest things to do in professional sports, the athletes just put so much more into it for a chance to win the best trophy in sports.
Kansas City Royals
Even though they’re not known for the same level of success as the St. Louis Cardinals, the Kansas City Royals had quite a two year run in 2014 and 2015. 2014 saw the team reach the postseason for the first time in nearly 30 years, and they made a run all the way to the World Series.
They would eventually lose to the San Francisco Giants, who were just completing their own dynasty. However, in 2015, the Royals screamed back and would take down the New York Mets in the World Series, bringing winning back to Kansas City. The Royals and Kansas City as a whole love baseball, and the Royals appear to be back on track with players like Bobby Witt Jr.
St. Louis City SC
ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 04: Eduard Löwen #10 of St. Louis City fights Karol widerski #11 of Charlotte FC for control of the ball during the second half at Citypark on March 4, 2023 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
Soccer in the United States has exploded in popularity over the last decade – and St. Louis City SC is the newest team to take the league by storm. In their first season of play, the team was atop the table in the Western Conference and made a deep playoff run, only to fall slightly short.
It’s great to see the MLS truly start to take shape in the United States, since soccer is truly the world’s game. There are even players like Lionel Messi who are coming to the United States to help grow the game and become ambassadors. St. Louis City SC had a great start to their club’s campaign, and 2024 appears to be no different.
Kansas City Current
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 23: Lo'eau LaBonta #10 of Kansas City and Megan Rapinoe #15 of OL Reign battle for the ball during the second half in a NWSL semifinal match at Lumen Field on October 23, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Men’s soccer isn’t the only sport to explode in the United States. Thanks to the success of the U.S. Women’s National Team, women’s soccer is growing at an incredibly rapid rate. This success has seen growth in the NWSL, which is where the Kansas City Current come into play.
People like Patrick Mahomes have invested in this club and they will have their first season in Kansas City, Missouri starting in 2024 after three seasons in Kansas. It’s amazing to have little girls have athletes to look up to so that they can feel like they can chase their goals and aspirations. Some of these teams have been showcasing their talent for years and creating iconic moments for fans to remember forever. Click here to read about the most iconic sports moments of the last decade.