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Seven articles taking you inside the FIFA World Cup draw and how it affects KC

Stories by Kansas City Star journalists, with AI summarization

Anticipation is continuing to build for FIFA World Cup games in Kansas City, especially after a weekend in which we learned who will be coming here for group-stage matches in 2026.

There will be global attention on Kansas City, the smallest American host city, which mirrors one of the teams coming to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium: Curacao, the smallest country at the World Cup.

Some big names will be playing here, too, like Lionel Messi and Argentina and a star-studded Netherlands squad that should bring a big traveling fan base. While initial expectations were some 650,000 fans could travel to KC as part of the World Cup games, that number may now be bigger, representatives from KC2026 say.

Here is our coverage from Friday's World Cup draw and Saturday's scheduling announcements.

Fans cheer as the teams for Group D of the FIFA World Cup are announced during a watch party at the Power & Light District on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Kansas City. By Emily Curiel

NO. 1: HERE’S HOW THE U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM CAN FIND ITS WAY TO KC IN WORLD CUP

The United States Men’s National Team knew its path through the 2026 World Cup group stage before Friday’s draw. | Published December 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Blair Kerkhoff

Jaime Bautista watches the World Cup draw at the Power & Light District on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 in Kansas City. By Rashad Alexander

NO. 2: IS KANSAS CITY READY FOR 650,000 WORLD CUP VISITORS? COULD BE EVEN MORE THAN THAT

Soon after learning which teams were assigned to Kansas City for group-stage games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Kathy Nelson recalibrated the number of visitors she is expecting here in the heartland. | Published December 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Blair Kerkhoff

Virgil van Dijk of Netherlands in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Netherlands and Finland at Johan Cruijff Arena on Oct. 12, 2025 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. By Dean Mouhtaropoulos

NO. 3: FIFA REVEALS THE MATCHUPS & TIMES FOR KC’S 2026 WORLD CUP GROUP-STAGE GAMES

The stars will be on the pitch at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium during the 2026 FIFA World Cup ... | Published December 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Pete Grathoff

Teams at the 2026 World Cup in Kansas City will include (left to right) Netherlands, Argentina and Ecuador. By Photo collage

NO. 4: BREAKING DOWN FIFA WORLD CUP TEAMS COMING TO KANSAS CITY IN GROUP STAGE

Kansas City will be the site of four group-stage games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. | Published December 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Blair Kerkhoff

Pictured, clockwise from top-left, are: Riyad Mahrez of Algeria, Julian Álvarez, Memphis Depay of the Netherlands, Virgil van Dijk of the Netherlands and Lionel Messi of Argentina.

NO. 5: MESSI AND WHO ELSE? KANSAS CITY’S WORLD CUP GAMES INCLUDE THESE 5 NOTABLE PLAYERS

Much of the news coverage surrounding the lineup of countries whose national soccer teams will play 2026 World Cup matches in Kansas City will, with good reason, lead with prominent global superstar Lionel Messi. | Published December 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Daniel Sperry

Children play on a mini-pitch in front of the stage during the FIFA World Cup draw watch party at the Power & Light District on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Kansas City, By Emily Curiel

NO. 6: SEE HOW KANSAS CITY CELEBRATED WORLD CUP DRAW AT POWER & LIGHT WATCH PARTY

If the scene around the KC Live! was any indication, hype is building for next year's World Cup matches in KC. | Published December 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Emily Curiel

Could Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi meet at this year’s World Cup? If they play in a quarterfinal, after each winning their groups, it would be in Kansas City. By Photo collage

NO. 7: LIONEL MESSI & RONALDO MAY FACE OFF IN KC WITH LOSER ENDING INTERNATIONAL CAREER

A frustrated Lionel Messi once stepped away from representing Argentina. | Published December 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Pete Grathoff

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.