World Cup KC

Although Kansas City's six World Cup matches will be hosted at Arrowhead Stadium, local leaders believe Columbia, Missouri, will also benefit as visitors travel before and after games — as long as businesses are prepared.

As the World Cup nears, some Kansas City-area residents are preparing their homes to be a short-term rental. With more than half a million people expected to travel in and out of the Kansas City region, cities are relying on property owners to help house the influx of tourists.

Kansas City is seeing an influx of short-term rental applications from residents interested in hosting their property during the FIFA World Cup. The city opened up special permitting in December that allows people to host short-term rentals from May 3 to July 31.

The reigning World Cup champions, led by soccer superstar Lionel Messi, will train at Sporting Kansas City's practice facility for the duration of the tournament.

The English Men's National Team will reportedly reside in a hotel in Johnson County during the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter is backing a proposed fan boycott of World Cup matches in the United States — several of which are in Kansas City — because of the conduct of President Trump and his administration at home and abroad.

Three of the world’s best teams — Argentina, England and Netherlands — are reportedly interested in making Kansas City their training home during the World Cup. Organizers say local businesses should start planning to make the most of 650,000 expected visitors.

The campaign is designed to welcome both domestic and international visitors hoping to travel to Kansas City to root for their teams from the stands. Columbia hopes its businesses will "adopt a team" and host watch parties during the summer event.

Kansas City and other World Cup host cities are eagerly waiting to learn where teams will set up their base camps for the 2026 tournament. The locations would serve as a place where teams can practice and train.

Kansas City elected officials are bracing for a challenging 2026 legislative session. Here’s what they hope to see passed — like World Cup funding — and what looks unlikely — such as local control of the KCPD.

The FIFA President addressed outrage over ticket prices for the World Cup, which will include six games in Kansas City, by pointing to record demand and reiterating that most of the proceeds will help support soccer around the world.

2025 brought a lot of grief for governments in Kansas City, Missouri, and Jackson County: the expensive departure of the city's highest-paid official, a property tax scandal that left the county's top lawmaker rebuked, and the Chiefs' planned move to Kansas. But there's something to look forward to, too: the 2026 FIFA World Cup.