While primarily set in the London suburb or Richmond, Apple TV's hit series Ted Lasso inexorably linked to Kansas City. This is primarily due to show co-creator Jason Sudeikis growing up in the suburbs, moving from Virginia to Overland, Kansas early in his life. With Season 4 featuring the optimistic and endearing coach taking over the new AFC Richmond women's team, Kansas City was featured in new way.
The Kansas City Current are a major part of the season premiere -- which went live on Wednesday -- as is their NWSL home of CPKC Stadium. Their home pitch, which sits along the Missouri River, is the first privately financed stadium constructed exclusively for professional women's soccer. The team is co-owned by Chris and Angie Long and Kansas City Chiefs
quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany, and Sudeikis is a regular either at games or repping their merch.
"From the very beginning, we've believed the Kansas City Current could help change the way the world sees women's sports. To now see our club and CPKC Stadium become part of the story of Ted Lasso, a show that has inspired millions through its optimism, heart and belief, is incredibly meaningful," the Longs said in a statement to For The Win. "It's a reflection of how far this club, our players, our fans and our city have come."
Now the Current are part of the Ted Lasso canon. In the first episode of Season 4, Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham), Keely (Juno Temple) and Higgins (Jeremy Swift) travel to Kansas City in an attempt to lure Ted (Sudeikis) back to Richmond to coach once again. They get KC barbecue, do some shopping downtown and head to CPKC Stadium for a game. The team's star forward Temwa Chaŵinga is featured, as are some of the stadium's unique features like Title IX written on one of the walls.
Temwa's goal *as seen on Ted Lasso* 🤩
THE moment Keeley knew the backing of women's soccer is HUGE.
@AppleTV x #KCBABY pic.twitter.com/OMKJYZZn9P— KC Current (@thekccurrent) August 5, 2026
"Ted Lasso is a show about belief and community, and I strongly believe that the Kansas City Current is a testament to belief," Missy Jenkins, the Current's Senior Vice President of Commercial explained. "Thinking about the vision that Chris and Angie Long and the Mahomes had to build the first stadium -- purpose-built for a women's professional sports team -- is a story and belief, knowing that if you build it, they will come."
Sudeikis, along with co-creator and co-star Brendan Hunt, has long been a champion for women's sports whether it's court side at a WNBA game or supporting the Current or donning an "Everyone Watches Women's Sports" sweatshirt. The earnestness and sincerity -- which is mirrored in his on-screen persona in Lasso -- makes the inclusion of the Current and the entire premise of Season 4 feel earned and not performative.
For the KC Current, it's a chance for their story to be told in a way that will reach so many.
"We're all really excited to see the Current showcased on a stage as big as an award-winning television program watched by millions," Jenkins said. "I think many of us cried when we watched this first episode. We were so emotional about the fact that what we all spend our days working on and working towards got to be highlighted and showcased in such a unique and cool way."
The first episode of Ted Lasso Season 4 is streaming on Apple TV now.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: What 'Ted Lasso' featuring Kansas City Current meant to NWSL team: 'So emotional'
