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Actor and comedian Brendan Hunt has become virtually inseparable from soccer thanks to his iconic role as Coach Beard on the hugely popular Apple TV series Ted Lasso. Beyond portraying a soccer coach on screen, Hunt is a genuine fan of the sport himself.
2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for Hunt in multiple respects. First, Ted Lasso is set to return for a fourth season — originally thought to conclude after three — on Aug. 5. Additionally, North America is gearing up to host the World Cup, with 11 U.S. cities staging matches this summer, marking the tournament's return to American soil for the first time in 32 years.
Among the host cities is Kansas City, which will welcome matches at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the NFL's Chiefs. England, Argentina, Algeria, and the Netherlands will use K.C. as their base camp during the tournament. Beyond the international appeal drawing soccer teams and supporters to the Midwestern city dubbed the "Soccer Capital of the U.S.," part of Kansas City's charm is tied to the popularity of Ted Lasso. The fictional character Ted Lasso hails from Kansas City — as does the actor who portrays him, Jason Sudeikis.
Speaking with Sports Illustrated as part of a partnership with Beggin' dog treats tied to the World Cup, Hunt expressed genuine delight at the idea that the show may have helped fuel soccer enthusiasm in the Midwest.
"That delights me," Hunt says. "Which is all to say, if Ted Lasso is involved in that at all, then we are only involved as passengers because K.C. was already doing what it was doing whether we were going to be there or not."
Hunt has made frequent trips to Kansas City alongside co-star Sudeikis, including when the show filmed portions of season four in the region last year. He's seen up close just how electric and loud K.C. sports crowds can be, having attended both Chiefs games and K.C. Current matches.
Brendan Hunt and Jason Sudeikis led the KC Baby chant ahead of today's match 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/P6FkkcERor
Although Hunt had hoped his hometown of Chicago would land a World Cup hosting spot, he's confident Kansas City will make a strong impression on the international teams and fans arriving this summer.
"Arrowhead is going to absolutely rock for whatever games are there," Hunt says. "Since Chicago bowed out for who knows what kind of reasons, I think it's good that K.C. came along to make sure there's still a midwestern touch for the World Cup."
Will Hunt be in Kansas City for any of the six matches scheduled there?
"I cannot comment on Kansas City specifically at this time," Hunt says while giving a conspicuous wink on camera. It seems like something could be in the works there down the line — perhaps even involving the Ted Lasso cast.
MORE SI: The Beginner's Cheat Sheet to the 2026 World Cup
The actor and writer intends to attend every U.S. team match, along with several high-profile games this summer in cities such as Los Angeles and Seattle.
"I'm going to try to go to everything," Hunt says. "I'm definitely going to all the U.S. games. I'm trying to get to some of the big ones where schedule and family commitments will allow. I'm trying to keep the summer as clear as possible so I can jump around all over the place."
He's also eager to see how each host city organizes Fan Fests for the nations competing on U.S. soil. Hunt appreciates that these events give supporters without match tickets a way to celebrate and watch the action surrounded by fellow fans.
"It's a legitimate cultural experience just to be among the madness in that way even if you can't get into one of the stadiums," Hunt says.
While soccer fans have the World Cup to look forward to first, the Ted Lasso premiere will follow shortly after the championship final on July 19. When asked to sum up the new season in a single word, Hunt — ever the comedian — offered "ovarian," a nod to the season's focus on a women's team rather than the AFC Richmond Greyhounds men's squad featured across the first three seasons. It's a witty way of keeping details under wraps about what awaits the beloved characters fans have come to cherish.
Hunt sounds every bit as thrilled as the fans to have the show back on screens.
"Getting back into Beard was easy enough especially because he talks so very little," Hunt says. "Getting on set and being back with Hannah [Waddingham], Juno [Temple], Jeremy [Swift] and Brett [Goldstein], it was the best. We love the whole new team of players we got too, and hopefully everyone will take to them as well. I'm excited to show people what we got."
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Madison Williams is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated, where she specializes in tennis but covers a wide range of sports from a national perspective. Before joining SI in 2022, Williams worked at The Sporting News. Having graduated from Augustana College, she completed a master's in sports media at Northwestern University.