World Cup demand sparks fight for accommodation in Kansas City
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Kansas City, Missouri – Kansas City is bracing for a surge of visitors as it prepares to host World Cup games this summer, and hotel and short-term rental availability is already shrinking months before the first game begins.
Tourism officials estimate that hundreds of thousands of visitors could pass through the subway during the tournament, while the city has approximately 36,000 hotel rooms. Some of those rooms are under contract with FIFA and are not available to the general public, adding pressure to an already competitive accommodation market.
Short-term rental properties in the Kansas City area are being booked ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Olivianna Calmes)
Visit Kansas City and Kansas City Sports Commission President and CEO Kathy Nelson says 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 show up at our door.”
A map highlights the cities selected to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Olivianna Calmes)
Nelson says Kansas City is one of the smaller host cities on the World Cup schedule, along with major destinations like New York, Los Angeles and Miami, but officials are confident that visitors will fan out across the region to find places to stay.
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The development of new hotels is also moving at full speed. A 45-room boutique hotel called the River Market Hotel will open its doors this spring, just weeks before the games begin. Hotel managing member Mike Heitman says the timing adds pressure but also opportunities.
Hotel construction continues in the River Market area of Kansas City 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 have been 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, a knockout round and a quarterfinal. Tourism officials estimate the event could generate more than $600 million in economic impact for the region, making it the largest tourism event the city has ever hosted.
Olivianna Calmes joined News in 2024 as a multimedia reporter based in St. Louis, Missouri.