June 23, 2022

ROUNDUP: Kansas City Metro Region Wins Historic Deal to Host 2026 FIFA World Cup 

ROUNDUP: Kansas City Metro Region Wins Historic Deal to Host 2026 FIFA World Cup 

TOPEKA – Kansas’ Kelly economy means that business is booming, this time on a global level. The Kansas City metro region was announced as a North American host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This deal is set to bring millions in tourist dollars to Kansas, boosting the economy as sports fans flock to hotels, restaurants, and bars in the area. This selection solidifies the work Governor Kelly has done to make Kansas – including the KC metro region – a world-class destination for tourists, businesses, and sports fans.

 

Here’s what others are saying about this historic achievement: 

The world is coming to Kansas City. 

Host cities’ population can grow by tens of thousands of fans during the event. Fans follow their teams to the host country and cities, and fan festivals are typically part of the attraction.

U.S. Soccer cited a study by the Boston Consulting Group that reported the 2026 event could generate $5 billion in short-term economic activity, and that host cities could gain $160 million to $620 million apiece in the process.

 

The opportunity to host games in soccer’s international showcase will make Kansas City the face of the Midwest worldwide.

Billions of people will watch every match. The cities in which those matches are played will forever be tied to the moments that take place within them. The World Cup offers exposure like no other sporting event on the planet.

 

Indeed, it’s hard to grasp the scope of the most massive and compelling sporting event on Earth coming to Kansas City for a still-to-be-determined number of games to be played at Arrowhead Stadium. 

But it means something more than the very welcome tens of thousands of visitors over the course of a month-plus and estimated economic impact in the hundreds of millions of dollars, our name and image going out across the globe among a cumulative audience of billions.

It means the good guys (us!) won and now get to show off as never before what makes Kansas City a unique and special place:

 

For five years, the mantra around Kansas City has been “We Want the World Cup.” Thursday digital billboards replaced the word “want” with “We Got the World Cup.” FIFA told Kansas City, the smallest of the American cities to receive a bid, one thing was clear: No one wanted it more.

The world’s biggest stage could be a chance to transform Kansas City’s image to the rest of the world. In 2018, a combined 3.572 billion viewers watched the World Cup, and an estimated 6.8 million tourists visited host cities.

According to one study, host cities can expect up to $620 million in incremental economic activity as a result. Improvements will have to be made, including at Arrowhead Stadium where remodeling is expected to start next year.

 

FIFA officials announced on Thursday that Kansas City is among the cities selected to host soccer matches in the world’s biggest singular-sports event.

Though the teams and dates for 2026 have yet to be determined, the tournament is expected to have an enormous economic impact on the Kansas City region when it takes place, most likely in the month of July.

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