Kansas City Prepares to Host 2026 FIFA World Cup Matches
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Kansas City, MO – As Kansas City prepares to host World Cup matches this summer, it is bracing for an influx of visitors as hotel availability and short-term rentals tighten in the months before the first game kicks off.
While tourism officials estimate that hundreds of thousands of visitors may pass through the metro during the tournament, there are approximately 36,000 hotel rooms in the city. Some of these rooms have contracts with FIFA and are not open to the public, adding pressure to an already competitive accommodation market.
This demand is pushing some locals to take unusual steps. Adam Kinner, a short-term rental owner who owns multiple properties in the Kansas City area, says he even plans to rent out his own home and move in with his family during the World Cup.
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Short-term rental properties are being booked in the Kansas City area ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Olivianna Calmes)
“I’m actually going to move into my parents’ basement,” Kinner told FOX. “The opportunity here is so great that we would be foolish not to take advantage of it.”
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Kathy Nelson, President and CEO of Visit Kansas City and the Kansas City Sports Commission, said the city has been preparing for this moment for years and is closely monitoring hotel capacity as bookings accelerate.
“The energy, excitement and anticipation is incredible,” Nelson said. “Everyone is about to come to our door.”
A map highlights the cities selected to host matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Olivianna Calmes)
Nelson says Kansas City is one of the smallest host cities on the World Cup schedule, alongside major destinations like New York, Los Angeles and Miami, but officials are confident visitors will spread out across the region to find places to stay.
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New hotel development works continue rapidly. A 45-room boutique hotel called the River Market Hotel will open this spring, just weeks before the games kick off. Mike Heitman, the hotel’s managing member, says the timing adds to the pressure but also the opportunity.
Hotel construction continues in Kansas City’s River Market district as the region prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Olivianna Calmes)
“It’s exciting and scary at the same time,” Heitman said. “There’s a good chance we’ll be open in just a week or two.”
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Kansas City will host six World Cup matches at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, including group stage matches, the knockout round and quarterfinals. Tourism officials estimate the event could bring more than $600 million in economic impact to the region, making it the largest tourism event the city has ever hosted.
