Kansas City is hosting six matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Whether you’re a local, or among the hundreds of thousands of expected visitors, KCUR put together a guide to the games, how to get tickets and what's happening in town.
Leading into the 2026 World Cup, KCUR's podcast A People's History of Kansas City is exploring how we became a soccer city. This project is in collaboration with the Great Game Lab at Arizona State University, which explores how sport connects us to the rest of the world, and the Us@250 Initiative at New America.
See our exhibition "A People’s History of Kansas City Soccer!" at the Kansas City Public Library — Central Branch, on display now through September.
A People's History of Kansas City: How we became a soccer city
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The list of World Cup controversies had many feeling pretty cynical before the tournament. But the moments of comradery and celebration among fans and teams — especially the connection between Lawrence, Kansas, and Algeria — have made the challenges easy to forget. -
The anxieties before the World Cup were many. But with the knockout round beginning Sunday, it's fair to say: The North American World Cup has been a thrill. -
A giant, brightly-colored tapestry designed to represent all of the countries in the World Cup is hanging in KC House, located in the former Forever 21 building on the Country Club Plaza. The space is intended for international executives, civic leaders and World Cup visitors. -
Algeria's draw with Austria was enough to put both teams through to the Round of 32, and extend the mutual affection between the African squad and Lawrence, Kansas, the college town they're calling home during the tournament. -
The ongoing Algeria-Lawrence lovefest has gained international attention, but a loss Saturday evening could end the affair while it's still getting started. Despite the big crowds and sometimes snarled traffic, pregame vibes in Lawrence are immaculate. -
Activists in Kansas City are using the world’s focus on soccer to highlight workers’ rights, social inequities and safety concerns for immigrants in the cities where the games are being played.
