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FIFA World Cup 2026 Travel Guide

Kansas City is known as the “soccer capital of America,” and it’s preparing for its biggest sports moment yet as the 2026 FIFA World Cup brings six matches — including a quarter-final — to Arrowhead Stadium. The city’s transit, hospitality, and entertainment corridors are shifting into high gear, with new logistics and crowd-flow systems designed specifically for tournament demand.

The newly unveiled “Woven Together” poster, designed by local artist Jadie Arnett, encapsulates Kansas City’s unique culture and identity, featuring local icons such as barbecue sauce, streetcar wires, and Union Station fountains. Whether you visit for one match or stay for a month or more, the city will be buzzing with activity — especially once the elimination rounds begin.

Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, will host six FIFA World Cup matches, including four group stage games in June and two knockout rounds in July.

Venue: Arrowhead Stadium

Capacity: 76,640

Match dates

• Tuesday, June 16, 2026 — Group Stage match (Match 19: Group J)
• Saturday, June 20, 2026 — Group Stage match (Match 34: Group E)
• Thursday, June 25, 2026 — Group Stage match (Match 58)
• Saturday, June 27, 2026 — Group Stage match (Match 69)
• Friday, July 3, 2026 — Round of 32 knockout match (Match 87)
• Saturday, July 11, 2026 — Quarterfinal match (Match 100)

How to get to Kansas City

Kansas City is the geographic center of the nation known for a handful of cultural pillars: barbeque, jazz, the arts, and sports.

Fly into Kansas City, Missouri (MCI) from major cities around the US and abroad, which may require a connection through a major hub such as DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth) or ORD (Chicago) depending where you’re coming from. Southwest Airlines will have new daily nonstop service between Kansas City International Airport and Boston Logan International Airport, plus weekend service to and from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport and Norfolk International Airport. British Airways announced it would begin offering four nonstop flights per week next year between St. Louis Lambert International Airport and London Heathrow because of the World Cup coming to the region and training site needs.

Kansas City International Airport debuted an award-winning new terminal in 2023, offering air travelers an excellent experience as they arrive and depart.

Driving between the airport and downtown KC usually takes 20-25 minutes. To reach the Rental Car Facility, take a fast free shuttle bus from any terminal’s baggage claim area on the lower level. Rideshare service is available via Uber and Lyft, too.

On weekdays, RideKC operates the free 229 bus route between Kansas City International Airport and downtown Kansas City. Service is available hourly, operating approximately 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. View the 229 route schedule here.

Amtrak connections

Starting in April 2026, Amtrak is adding extra service between Kansas City and St. Louis for the World Cup to provide three trips daily. An additional Missouri River Runner train route between the Missouri cities, with a stop in Jefferson City, will connect to Chicago. Kansas City is also a stop on the Southwest Chief route that runs between Chicago and Los Angeles. Both trains depart and arrive at Union Station, where a KC Streetcar stop makes easy access to public transit.

Driving to Kansas City

From many visitors, road trips are the most convenient way to reach Kansas City in less than a day. Nearby cities include:

• Wichita: 3.5 hours
• Des Moines: 3 hours
• St. Louis: 4 hours
• Tulsa: 4 hours
• Oklahoma City: 5 hours
• Minneapolis: 6.5 hours
• Dallas: 7 hours
• Memphis: 7.5 hours
• Chicago: 8 hours

How to get to Arrowhead Stadium

It’s important to remember that parking is expected to be extremely limited at fan festival and stadium sites, so alternatives are essential for visitors. The city is adding 200 buses to improve transportation connections with downtown, major hotels, airport, fan festival site, and sports stadium.

KC Streetcar, an electric fixed-rail vehicle, has recently been extended to cover a 5-mile route. It’s free to ride to and from popular places including National WWI Museum and Memorial, River Market, Power & Light, Crossroads Arts District, Union Station/Crown Center, Midtown/Westport and Country Club Plaza.

KC Streetcar does not provide service to Arrowhead Stadium where matches will be played. Without traffic, the drive between downtown Kansas City and the stadium is approximately 15 minutes. Plan ahead for using busy rideshare apps.

The free KC Streetcar does provide service between the fan festival grounds at WWI Museum & Memorial and several districts where major groups of hotels are located, including the Kansas City Convention Center, Country Club Plaza, and Crown Center (which is only a short walk from the fan fest site).

As the World Cup draws nearer, organizers will announce additional enhanced transportation options for key locations including the stadium, fan festival, and Kansas City International Airport.

Make plans or conveniently change plans using GuideGeek, a free AI-powered travel assistant to get instant personalized tips via Instagram, Facebook Messenger, or WhatsApp.

Official Fan Zones for the Kansas City World Cup Matches

Everyone loves a free party. Longtime Sporting KC head coach Peter Vermes said it best when he noted that “an unbelievable party is coming to Kansas City.” In June and July, Kansas City will host a FIFA Fan Festival for 2026 World Cup fans aimed at delivering an immersive and welcoming experience. The free festival will take place at the National World War I Museum and Memorial Grounds at Penn Valley Park.

The event is designed to showcase Kansas City’s hospitality and culture, with capacity for 25,000 attendees and activities planned for match days, including those featuring Team USA.

In readiness for the much larger number of fans expected, Kansas City officials have been planning for months. “When over 650,000 soccer fans come to Kansas City in 2026, they’ll find an innovative dining scene, world-class attractions and our iconic Midwestern hospitality,” says Kathy Nelson, president and CEO of Visit KC. “Add in some of our world-famous barbecue, and Kansas City is ready to welcome the world and show everyone why this is a top destination to live, work and visit.”

Kansas City’s soccer culture

Experience counts. Kansas City has hosted multiple FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, the 2013 MLS All-Star game, and the 2013 MLS Cup final. Three professional soccer teams, each with a passionate fan base, call Kansas City home: Sporting KC, Kansas City Current, and Kansas City Comets. The men’s professional soccer team, Sporting Kansas City, is a successful founding member of MLS in the Western Conference with two MLS wins and four US Open Cup wins. Home games are played at Children’s Mercy Park near Kansas Speedway on the Kansas side of the state border.

The women’s professional soccer team, Kansas City Current, competes in the premier National Women’s Soccer League. Based at the new CPKC stadium at Berkley Riverfront Park, KC Current is well known for its co-owners Brittany Mahomes and Patrick Mahomes, starting quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kansas City Comets is a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League, playing its home games at Cable Dahmer Arena in nearby Independence, Missouri from late November through March.

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