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KCUR Studios
Olathe native named official referee for 2026 World Cup matches. As a teen, he almost quit
16 minutes Posted Apr 30, 2026 at 9:00 am.
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Early in his career, while officiating youth soccer matches in Olathe, Kyle Atkins wanted to quit, but his dad didn’t let him walk away so easily. This summer, you’ll be able to see him on the pitch as an assistant referee during the 2026 FIFA World Cup — after he and his crew get motivated with music and dancing in the locker room.