ABOUT
Straddling the Missouri-Kansas border, Kansas City surprises visitors with its charm. Renowned for world-famous barbecue, a rich jazz and blues heritage, and (interesting fact) it has more fountains than any city outside Rome, it's a relaxed, affordable destination with a strong arts scene.
Sporting Kansas City are one of MLS's most successful clubs and won the MLS Cup in 2000 and 2013, and has long been a model of how to build a football club in the Midwest, including through a dedicated soccer-specific stadium, Children's Mercy Park.
For the World Cup, they are playing at Arrowhead Stadium, home to NFL side Kansas City Chiefs, which holds the remarkable distinction of playing in the loudest stadium in the world, according to the Guinness World Records. The stadium also had to undergo minor renovation last summer to prepare it for the World Cup by widening their pitch.
Kansas City hosts six matches with four group stage games featuring Belgium vs Egypt and the Netherlands vs Japan - plus a round of 32 and a quarter-final.
Kansas City
Getting FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets
Tickets and ticket prices have been much of the talk for the World Cup, so far. Because of the high prices for the World Cup, it means there are still tickets available for most games.
This is the biggest World Cup ever, with 48 teams and 104 matches through the tournament, running from 11th June to 19th July. Here's everything you need to know.
Official channels first.
The Last-Minute Sales Phase launched on 1st April and runs through until the end of the tournament. Unlike earlier lottery phases, tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis with instant confirmation. Your FIFA ID needs to be active and payment details saved in advance, as inventory for high-profile matches in cities like New York and Los Angeles sells out within minutes of being released. All purchases go through FIFA.com/tickets.
The official resale route.
The FIFA Resale/Exchange Marketplace reopened on April 2 and remains open until one hour before each match's kick-off. Availability can be very limited, with tickets appearing sporadically, so best advice is to check frequently and act quickly. All transactions and ticket transfers are handled by FIFA, keeping the tickets digital throughout. There is no limit on the mark-up on tickets, so prices can vary. However, with dynamic pricing, there's always a chance some tickets get cheaper nearer to the game.
Third-party resale — proceed with caution.
Platforms like StubHub, Viagogo, and SeatGeek operate legally in many markets but are not recognised by FIFA as valid resale channels. FIFA has made clear that tickets bought outside the official system may be invalid or cancelled. FIFA has placed no restrictions on resale pricing, which has caused significant controversy — particularly for the final, where prices are expected to be extremely high.
Arrowhead Stadium tours are one of the best ways to understand Kansas City’s sporting identity away from matchday. Official tours of GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium usually take visitors behind the scenes into areas such as the Chiefs Hall of Honor, press box, broadcast booth, suites, locker room and field-level areas, though exact access can change depending on events and stadium operations.
The tour works well for football travellers because it shows both sides of Arrowhead: the modern NFL operation and the older, bowl-like stadium that helped create one of the loudest atmospheres in American sport. Public and private tour options are available, with booking handled online. Check availability in advance, especially around Chiefs games, concerts and 2026 World Cup preparations.
Address: Arrowhead Stadium, One Arrowhead Drive, Kansas City MO 64129
Capacity: 76,416.
WC matches: 6 group-stage + quarter-final.
FAN ZONE: FIFA Fan Festival Kansas City — National WWI Museum and Memorial
Kansas City’s fan festival will sit on the grounds of the National WWI Museum and Memorial, giving the city one of the most dramatic fan-zone backdrops in the tournament. Expect live match screenings, music, food, cultural programming, giant screens, photo spots and a strong local flavour. The site is close to Union Station and should become Kansas City’s main gathering point throughout the World Cup.
Cost: General admission is free, but fans need a digital GA pass. Entry is first come, first served and subject to capacity. Premium passes with guaranteed entry and hospitality perks will cost extra.
A beautifully preserved 1931 Art Deco skyscraper in downtown Kansas City with elegant rooms, and a great location within walking distance of the Crossroads Arts District.
Directly connected to the Power & Light entertainment district, the Loews is a modern luxury hotel with a rooftop pool and immediate access to the best spots in downtown.
Located just steps from the iconic Truman Sports Complex, home to Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium, this hotel is a top choice for fans attending the World Cup or the Chiefs.
A converted 1914 building in the Crossroads Arts District with excellent design, great communal spaces and a rooftop bar. More affordable and perfectly located for downtown.
Kansas City BBQ Sauce
Kansas City BBQ is one of America's great culinary traditions and a genuine rival to the Central Texas and Carolina schools for the title of 'finest BBQ in the nation'. KC-style is defined by its sauce – a thick, sweet-and-tangy tomato-based creation that coats the slow-smoked meats and has been imitated worldwide but matched by few. The primary cuts are beef brisket and pork ribs, though 'burnt ends' (the caramelised, intensely flavoured tips of the brisket) are the city's most distinctive contribution to the BBQ canon.
Beyond BBQ, Kansas City has an underappreciated food scene shaped by its position at the crossroads of American food cultures. The city's stockyard heritage has given it a deep tradition of beef cookery; its position on the Missouri River meant early access to trade goods that diversified the local palate. The Crossroads Arts District has driven a new wave of innovative restaurants, and the city's growing Latino community has added excellent Mexican food to the mix.
Breakfast in Kansas City typically means biscuits and gravy, huevos rancheros or a classic American diner spread.
Having evolved from it's roots in a petrol station, Joe's is considered by many as one the finest BBQ restaurants in Kansas City. The Z-Man sandwich is a revelation.
Open since 1930, Arthur Bryant's is the grandfather of Kansas City BBQ. We recommend the burnt ends and thick-sliced brisket, coated in Bryant's original vinegar-based sauce.
An exceptional neighbourhood modern Italian restaurant in the Crossroads Arts District, making outstanding fresh pasta and seasonal dishes.
Pierpont's at Union Station, looks much like the original building did in 1914, with high ceiling and a grandiose feel. Expect great steak, seafood and wine.
CRAFT BEERS AND JAZZ MUSIC
Kansas City's drinking scene is as rich and varied as the city's food culture, built on craft beer, live music bars and a cocktail culture that has grown significantly in recent years. The Power & Light District in downtown KC provides the highest concentration of bars and entertainment venues – an indoor-outdoor entertainment complex built around bars, restaurants and a live music stage that is the city's most popular nightlife destination.
The craft beer scene has developed impressively, with Boulevard Brewing (one of the largest craft breweries in the Midwest) leading the way. Boulevard's Unfiltered Wheat is the city's defining craft beer, and their Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale has a devoted national following. KC Bier Co., Cinder Block Brewery and several other local producers add excellent variety.
The jazz heritage that put Kansas City on the global cultural map in the 1920s and 30s remains very much alive. The 18th and Vine Jazz District, home to the American Jazz Museum, still has active live music venues, and the broader live music scene across Westport and the Crossroads means there are few American cities that offer more authentic live entertainment at more accessible prices.
Strange Days Brewing Co in the city centre is an excellent spot for watching live sport and football, often opening early for early kick-offs. Find excellent craft beer on tap.
In a city defined by its jazz heritage, the Green Lady Lounge is one of KC's finest. Live jazz seven nights a week in an intimate setting, with excellent drink options.
Kansas City's best craft brewery produces outstanding German-style lagers and wheat beers in a beautiful taproom and biergarten. The Dunkel and Hefeweizen are exceptional.
A high-energy live entertainment bar in the Power & Light district featuring duelling pianos that play audience requests. Loud, fun and popular with large groups – great night out.
Kansas City is one of America's great underrated cities – a Midwestern metropolis of 500,000 on the Missouri River that punches far above its weight for food, music and sporting culture. Straddling the Kansas-Missouri state line, KC is genuinely two cities in one, with downtown Missouri and the Crossroads Arts District on one side and suburban Kansas on the other. It's a city that rewards those who take the time to look beyond the BBQ (extraordinary as that is) to discover a jazz heritage, a thriving arts scene and a warmth of welcome that's hard to match anywhere in America.
CURRENCY: US DOLLARS
The premier First World War museum in the Western Hemisphere, built on an extraordinary scale beneath a 217-foot tower. Remarkable collections and interactive exhibits.
See the sights of Kansas City on this 150-foot ferris wheel, which also has a mini-golf course and bar on site for you to make a good day of it.
Kansas City's most creative neighbourhood hosts 'First Fridays' on the first Friday of each month. A city-wide art event where galleries, studios and pop-up spaces invite visitors.
Two of America's finest cultural museums share a building: the American Jazz Museum tells musical history, while the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum tells another fascinating story.