Is Kansas City ready for the World Cup? Catch up with the latest news
Kansas City is just about 30 days away from the start of the World Cup. The event is anticipated to be one of the largest in our city’s history, but there is much that remains unclear about what residents and visitors can expect.
Journalists at The Kansas City Star are here to help you make sense of it all. We are tracking the gap between official projections and on-the-ground reality for Kansas Citians — from a hotel industry survey ranking Kansas City the most negatively impacted host market to volunteer dysfunction inside FIFA’s own systems. We’re also preparing to cover the fun and festivities as the summer of World Cup events get started.
Catch up with the latest World Cup news:
Visit KC chief defends 650,000-visitor projection despite mounting headwinds
Kathy Nelson, president and CEO of Visit KC, told reporters Thursday she is not ready to abandon the long-touted 650,000-visitor estimate, even as federal visa bond requirements of up to $15,000 per person now apply to visitors from roughly 50 countries — including World Cup participants Tunisia and Algeria.
“We didn’t work 10 years for this to be a flop,” Nelson said, during her remarks at Visit KC’s annual tourism dinner.
Hotel survey finds Kansas City lagging on World Cup bookings
A new American Hotel and Lodging Association report found Kansas City is faring worse than all other U.S. host cities on hotel bookings, with more than 85% of local hotel managers reporting lower-than-expected reservations. FIFA released more room blocks than anticipated, leaving extra inventory on the market.
Volunteers report delays and system-wide glitches with FIFA tech
Some of the roughly 3,500 Kansas City World Cup volunteers have struggled to access FIFA’s e-learning portal, sign up for shifts and schedule uniform pickups, with similar complaints surfacing in Dallas and other host cities.
FIFA said in a written statement that the issues have been resolved, additional pickup slots have been opened and the portal “remained operational at all times,” as detailed in The Star’s Reality Check series.
KC2026 reports robust ticket sales, interest from more than 100 nations
Pam Kramer, KC2026’s president, said FIFA data indicates every match at Arrowhead Stadium is trending toward a sellout. Registrations for KC’s Fan Festival have come from 112 countries and all 50 states. Kramer said that premium experiences at three Fan Fest dates have sold out. FIFA also told the KC organizing group that fans from Argentina and Ecuador are expected to make a strong showing to cheer on their countries.
Public bus system opens reservations for matches and Fan Fest
KC2026 has assembled a fleet of more than 200 buses to shuttle visitors around the metro, with day passes at $5, weekly passes at $25 and tournament passes at $50. A free airport shuttle will run 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and a $15 round-trip ticket will take ticketholders from four regional lots to Arrowhead on match days.
Kansas City needs to practice patience, our columnist says
Star columnist Vahe Gregorian urged readers to calm down amid the hotel-booking paranoia and let the event play out, noting Kansas City landed four base camps and six games — including a quarterfinal — far exceeding original hopes for one match and one base camp.
Dutch delegation tells KC restaurants to skip the Dutch food
A 17-person Dutch delegation that visited Kansas City in early April asked local restaurants to serve barbecue and fried chicken rather than attempt Dutch cuisine, according to Tracy Whelpley, director of regional impact for KC2026.
Kansas City International Airport ready to welcome the world
Kansas City International Airport has become the city’s most visible display of World Cup spirit, with FIFA jerseys on bathroom figures, ceiling banners in multiple languages, wrapped baggage carousels and a countdown clock. Chartered fan flights are expected from Argentina and Curaçao.
Showing KC’s heart to visitors
Kansas City architect Bob Berkebile is restoring the heart-shaped forest planted by volunteers in 1990 near KCI. The project includes roughly 2,000 trees provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation and plans for a parking lot, welcome plaza, enhanced trails and a sanctuary at the forest’s center.
Berkebile and Brian Weinberg, co-founders of the Foundation for Regeneration, hope to complete the work before World Cup visitors arrive.
Sporting Park to host free concert series during the tournament
Third Eye Blind will headline a free Soccer Capital Summer concert series at Sporting Park on July 18, the eve of the World Cup final. The event runs June 17 through July 19 with watch parties for more than 20 matches, live music, food and games.
FIFA releases $375 limited-edition Kansas City host city jersey
FIFA introduced limited-edition host city jerseys late last week, with Kansas City joining New York/New Jersey, Boston and Seattle among the first released. Each city’s release is limited to 999 numbered jerseys, with designs drawn from the host city’s official poster art and references to both Missouri and Kansas on Kansas City’s version.
