World Cup

The FIFA World Cup is rolling into Kansas City, Missouri, and with it, over 650,000 visitors. Not only can the city expect an economic boom, but the impacts will be seen in surrounding areas — including Maryville.

Just weeks before thousands of fans from around the world celebrate the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the lawn of the National WWI Museum and Memorial, local organizers and security partners gathered there to practice responding to emergencies.

It's not just Kansas City's airport that expects to see an influx of visitors for this summer's World Cup. St. Louis also expects to field travelers, who will then need to trek across the state by car, Amtrak or bus.

A free event Friday at Westport Plaza in Maryland Heights will give soccer fans the chance to get an up-close look at the World Cup trophy, ahead of the international tournament's kickoff next month. The trophy tour visits Kansas City over the weekend.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe met with local and federal public safety officials on Monday to discuss the state's emergency security protocol, which includes sending more than 100 Missouri National Guard service members and state troopers to the metro.

The federal government promised Kansas City $59 million in security funding for the World Cup. The partial government shutdown put funds' release in limbo until the Department of Homeland Security announced last week it would start sending money.

The Netherlands are the third World Cup country to pick Kansas City as its home base this summer. The Dutch men's national team will play a group stage match at Arrowhead Stadium in June.

Kansas City and other World Cup host cities are eagerly waiting to learn where teams will set up their base camps for the 2026 tournament. The locations would serve as a place where teams can practice and train.

With six months to go before the first matches, there are still reasonably priced rooms in the metro. More homeowners can also rent out their houses after local governments eased rules for short-term rentals.

With the World Cup teams now determined for Kansas City's first four games next June, fans can now join another FIFA draw for their chance to buy tickets. But they won't be cheap.