Kansas City will host six FIFA World Cup matches in the summer of 2026. Whether you’re a local or among the hundreds of thousands of people expected to travel in, KCUR put together a guide to the games, how to get tickets and what's happening in town.
A People's History of Kansas City: How we became a soccer city
-
Courtesy of Jim Portuguez / Crysta Henthorne KCUR 89.3Kansas City may not have embraced soccer at all if not for the efforts of early immigrants who fought for the beautiful game — before there were even dedicated fields to play on. (En español.) -
Missouri Valley Room / Kansas City Public Library/ Crysta Henthorne/KCUR 89.3The founder of the Chiefs, Lamar Hunt, was a steadfast believer in soccer, from the failed attempts at a national league, through the creation of MLS and the very first U.S. soccer stadium. (En español.)
Leading up to 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.
If you know about a local champion of soccer in Kansas City who helped bring the city to this extraordinary moment, email us at peopleshistorykc@kcur.org
-
If “hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup” were a sport in and of itself, these past few months have shown that perhaps Kansas City wants this more than other cities. Plus: Federal funding woes and other issues facing the tournament with 100 days to go. -
Will Iran compete? Will violence in Mexico flare up? And what about funding for host cities in the U.S.? With only 100 days left before it beings, the 2026 World Cup in North America is facing a lot of uncertainty. -
Many of the area’s faith communities are making detailed plans to ensure that everyone has religious support while they’re here. Large congregations are also working on unique ways to connect with the World Cup. -
Dulcinea Herrera, whose family operates three Café Corazón locations across the metro, is ready to welcome Argentina’s World Cup team and its fans to Kansas City this summer. She's already prepared to welcome larger crowds and host watch parties. -
Proponents are worried that soccer fans in Johnson and Wyandotte counties will cross the border to bars and stores in Missouri, which already passed legislation to extend liquor sales to 23 hours of the day. -
Between Kansas City's six games, multiple base camps, and an influx of an estimated 650,000 visitors, Kansas is expecting a strain on public safety, emergency and transportation services. The disaster declaration sets up Kansas to receive federal assistance.
