Kansas City is getting ready to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and it’s a big deal. With six matches coming to the city, including a quarterfinal thousands of visitors from around the world are expected to arrive this summer. Because of that, the city has been working on transportation, organization, and making sure everything runs smoothly.
Carlos Gomez, president and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, said the event will bring a massive amount of attention and opportunity to the city.
“One World Cup game is bigger than a Super Bowl,” Gomez said. “Kansas City is getting six of them in one month.”
According to Gomez, the event will bring a huge economic impact as hundreds of thousands of visitors travel to the city. Local organizations, businesses and city leaders have been preparing to make sure Kansas City can handle the crowds and showcase the city to a global audience.
While leaders are optimistic about the event, some residents believe there are still areas that could improve.
Sophomore David Martinez-Solis shared his thoughts on whether the city is fully ready.
“The Kansas side isn’t the best right now, so tourists may be shocked to see how it is compared to the Missouri side,” Martinez-Solis said.
Even so, he believes the World Cup could help Kansas City grow in the long run.
“If it goes well, we’ll be hosting more and more global events. Which will bring more money, more people, and will make the city nicer and better,” Martinez-Solis said.
Senior Matthew Cheney also said he has noticed the city making improvements while preparing for the event.
“As a KC resident, it’s great to see what the city is attempting to do in preparation for the World Cup,” Cheney said.
Cheney said he has seen road improvements near the Chiefs stadium and has heard about plans for future projects such as a riverfront streetcar. However, he believes some preparations are still ongoing.
“I personally don’t think we are ready as most things are still under construction,” Cheney said. “However, when it comes to soccer, I think we are extremely prepared with multiple training camps available, including the KC Current women’s training base.”
Despite the ongoing work, Cheney believes the event will bring positive experiences to the city.
“Global events like the World Cup not only bring a vast amount of diversity to our city but also give residents more things to look forward to and be personally a part of,” Cheney said.
As Kansas City prepares for the World Cup hosting Algeria, Argentina, England, and Netherlands, there is both excitement and pressure. The event could shape how the world sees the city and possibly open the door for even bigger opportunities in the future.
