The biggest sporting event in the world grows even larger next year as the 2026 FIFA World Cup expands to teams from 48 countries.
The tournament will be played out at 16 sites in three countries — the United States, Canada and Mexico — with Kansas City serving as one of 11 U.S. sites. Mexico will host three sites while Canada will serve as host at two sites.
On Tuesday, Jim Rowland, of the Missouri Division of Tourism, was on hand in Joplin to share progress in planning the event, what’s left to do and what communities throughout the Show-Me State can do to get in on the excitement.
Rowland said about 650,000 visitors are expected in Kansas City for the event, with the first match scheduled for June 16 at Arrowhead Stadium, which during the tournament will be referred to as Kansas City Stadium.
Group stage matches will also take place June 20, June 25 and June 27. Kansas City Stadium will also host a Round of 32 match on July 3 and a quarterfinal on July 11.
“A typical match in the World Cup is viewed by the same audience numbers that a Super Bowl has,” Rowland said. “The World Cup final, which will be played in New York, will be viewed by almost 5 billion people simultaneously. The numbers are staggering.”
Rowland said hosting allows Kansas City the opportunity to become a worldwide attraction.
“The eyes of the world will be on the state of Missouri and Kansas City,” Rowland said. “It’s an incredible opportunity for us to really rise. We hope to bring a lot of people here, but we also hope to bring them here and let them say this is a place we need to come back and visit.”
Rowland said there will be a number of alterations to Arrowhead for the event. The crown at GEHA Field will be removed to flatten the field for soccer play and Kansas City Chiefs’ branding that would be in view of television cameras will be temporarily replaced with FIFA World Cup branding.
Visitors to Kansas City will have near around-the-clock access to alcohol after the Missouri Legislature approved a 23-hour liquor license for the entirety of the event.
The free Kansas City FIFA Fan Festival will be at the National World War I Museum and Memorial and will feature a 40-foot screen for watch parties, a live entertainment stage and more.
And while the World Cup is an economic boon for Kansas City, other Missouri communities — including Joplin — want to reap tourism dollars from the event as international guests tour the region for a taste of Americana. With two to three days off between matches, Rowland said the Missouri Department of Tourism will encourage visitors to experience Missouri.
“We will have all kinds of information on a FIFA host city app about things to do and where to go on day trips. There will be multiple opportunities to take a look around and we will be driving that messaging from the Missouri Division of Tourism’s standpoint.”
Pat Tuttle, director of the Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the CVB will be installing a billboard on I-70 between the FIFA Fan Festival and Arrowhead encouraging people to check out Joplin and historic Route 66, which is marking its 100th anniversary next year.
“There are three days between matches. We know there will be some die-hard fans that will stay where the teams are at, but there will also be a number that will want to get out and see America and Route 66,” he said.
Joplin could also benefit from hotel and restaurant revenue as it is situated between Kansas City and Dallas — another of the other U.S. World Cup sites.
Tuttle said the CVB has already been advertising in Europe with a commercial on social media for the past four months.
