It’s been 8 years since we last caught up with Kansas City-based Santafé Wanderers… too long! The club was founded in 1995 by Hispanic/Latino immigrants in search of a better life from the northern regions of Mexico and as they enter their 31st year we reached out to refresh our memories and let our newer followers know about one of the oldest soccer clubs in Kansas City, Kansas.

Tell us the origin story of your club - when was the club founded? By whom and what was its mission?
Our club was founded in 1995 by the Cadena family in east Kansas City, Kansas. There was no formal mission at its founding, not intentionally at least. A clear mission would come later and it has everything to do with the arrival of the Cadena family to Kansas City. Lorenzo Cadena Sr. was the first of the Cadena's to arrive in 1986. Almost a decade later, the Cadena family is established and thriving in east Kansas City. Alonzo Cadena then sparks the idea of starting a local Sunday league team. Other family members then jump on board with the idea and fund the team with their local small businesses. This included car dealerships and painting and remodeling businesses. Now I would say the mission is more clear than ever and it's to share Kansas' deep Hispanic heritage through our football club as it is one that is relevant to many parts of the United States.

Tell us about your badge and colors – how does it connect to the community?
Name: Our club name is inspired by the Santa Fe Trail. It is historically recorded that the earliest Hispanic settlers arrived in the Kansas City area via the Santa Fe trail. You will quickly notice we spell it one word, Santafé. It is an alternate way of spelling the word and we opted for it to avoid confusion with being from New Mexico. We believe it embodies our heritage and the journey of our club's founders perfectly. We also believe it is a testament to Hispanics being present in this city since its inception. We hope our club initiatives and influence becomes one that speaks to the positive impact immigration has always had on this city and will continue to have with future waves of migrants from different parts of the world moving in.
Colors: Our club colors were selected by Lorenzo Cadena Sr. He went looking for uniforms while on a trip to Mexico knowing they would be cheaper and happened to find a set of Flemengo kits for a good price. He brought them back to Kansas City and they quickly became our trademark colors.
Badge: We debuted our newest badge during our inaugural 2025 USL season. The crest is inspired by the Cruz de Santiago or Cross of St. James as our logo for more than one reason. First, the word Santa Fe or Santafe is Spanish for the word Holy Faith. Faith has always been at the center of our club. Not only in practice religiously but since the arrival of our founders and many immigrants alike. The moment the decision is made to leave a country of origin to seek better opportunities a leap of faith is taken. The cross perfectly embodies this ethos. Secondly, which ties in more historically to Kansas City, the Santa Fe trail is remnant to a trail that was once connected to former Mexican territories and played a key economic role in the region. So much so it was a critical role in the establishment of Kansas City. Ultimately, we want to honor the USA's historical Hispanic heritage and we believe this is the best way to do that.

What league or leagues does your club participate in and why did you choose those to join?
We are now competing in the USL2. We chose this league because it was proven to be the most established and professionally run amongst all amatuer leagues in the United States. After year one, that has only been affirmed to a greater extent. We are excited to continue competing in the USL2.

Tell us how you cover the costs and how anybody interested can support you.
Since making the jump to USL2 we have definitely had to find ways to diversify our revenue channels. The club is mostly sustained through small businesses from our community. Sponsorship is a critical piece of the puzzle. As well as community events such as camps and clinics. We will also be launching a shop on our new website this year.

How did you finish last year? What are the goals for your next season?
Last season we finished fourth, one point behind third place in a highly competitive Great Plains division. Our goal for 2026 is to reach the playoffs.

How do you participate in, or give back to your community?
In our community we operate a local youth club at low cost as well as operate the recreational programs for a local parks and rec commission in Kansas City. We will be looking to expand that recreational program in partnership with the local school districts to have a full functioning interscholastic elementary youth soccer league. This will serve as our primary filter to recruit kids for our pre-academy and future USL Academy.

Follow the Santafé Wanderers and give them a follow on Instagram HERE