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Kansas City, MO – Kansas City is bracing for a wave of visitors as it prepares to host World Cup games this summer, with hotel availability and short-term rentals already tightening months before the first game kicks off.
Tourism officials estimate that hundreds of thousands of visitors could pass through the metro during the tournament, while the city has about 36,000 hotel rooms. Some of these rooms are under contract with FIFA and unavailable to the public, adding pressure to an already competitive accommodation market.
That demand is pushing some locals to take unusual steps. Adam Kinner, a short-term rental host who owns several properties in the Kansas City area, says he even plans to rent out his own home during the World Cup and move in with his parents.
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Short-term rental properties are booking up in the Kansas City area ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Olivianna Calmes)
“I actually want to move back into my parents’ basement,” Kinner told FOX. “The opportunity is just so great here that it would be foolish not to take advantage of it.”
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President and CEO of Visit Kansas City and the Kansas City Sports Commission, Kathy Nelson, says the city has been preparing for this moment for years and is closely monitoring hotel capacity as bookings accelerate.
“The energy, the excitement, the anticipation is incredible,” Nelson said. “Everyone is showing up on our doorstep.”
A map highlights cities selected to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Olivianna Calmes)
Nelson says Kansas City is one of the smallest host cities in the World Series, along with major destinations like New York, Los Angeles and Miami, but officials are confident visitors will spread out across the region to find places to stay.
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New hotel development is also running the clock. A 45-room boutique hotel called the River Market Hotel is due to open this spring, just weeks before the games begin. The hotel’s managing member, Mike Heitman, says the timing adds pressure but also opportunity.
Hotel construction continues in Kansas City’s River Market area 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 be open for a week or two.”
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Kansas City will host six World Cup games at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, including group stage play, a knockout round and a quarterfinal. Tourism officials estimate the event could bring more than $600 million in economic impact to the region, making it the largest tourism event the city has ever hosted.
