Score. Kansas City is officially one of the 11 US host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A total of 16 stadiums were selected from the US, Canada, and Mexico. Cheers erupted during yesterday’s watch party at KC Live! in the Power & Light District as seven years of planning + campaigning have finally paid off.
We can hear the cheers from this picture. | Photo by @kc2026worldcup
“Kansas City, you are a World Cup City,” tweetedMayor Quinton Lucas.
This is the first time the tournament will include 48 teams + be staged across three nations. A total of 60 matcheswill take place in the US.
“The city is going to show out in 2026. We can’t wait to welcome fans from across the world and to the loudest stadium” — said Patrick Mahomes during the live broadcast.
Matches will be played at Arrowhead Stadium. Changes will need to be made to the current stadium, including removing football yard lines + the Chiefs’ logo. Space will also need to be created on the field to accommodate soccer field dimensions. Another addition would be a special ventilation system to ensure the grass is the same as the other World Cup venues’ fields. Renderings of the Arrowhead Stadium hosting the 2026 World Cup were released by the Kansas City Sports Commissions.
“From the number of fans who come out to watch our national teams compete, to the fact that our City will have America’s first women’s soccer stadium, Kansas City has always impressed those from around the world in our passion and support for soccer.” — Angie and Chris Long, Kansas City Current Co-Founders.
With thousands of fans flocking to the city for matches + fests, an estimated economic impact of $160 million to $620 millionwill flow into Kansas City. Fan fests will either take place at the Union Station or on the south lawn of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
Other US cities that made the cut? Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami + New York/New Jersey. Mexico will host matches in Guadalajara, Mexico City + Monterrey, while Toronto and Vancouver will host matches up in Canada.
With KC also hosting the 2023 NFL Draft, it’s safe to say that we’re not just the Heart of America… we’re also the Heart of Sports.
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Boulevardia | Fri., June 17-Sat., June 18 | Times vary | Crown Center | $55 | If you love craft beers and sampling great foods, this two-day street music festival may be for you. 🍻
Riverdance | Fri., June 17-Sun., June 19 | 8 p.m. | Starlight Theatre | $16+ | Enjoy the Grammy award-winning score with Irish + international dance.
Saturday
Pride Bar Crawl | Sat., June 18 | 4-11:59 p.m. | John’s Big Deck, 928 Wyandotte St., Kansas City, MO | $18+ | Join the proudest crawl in KC with two or more drink vouchers. 🌈
Juneteenth in the Dotte | Sat., June 18 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | The Village Initiative, 3004 N. 27 St., Kansas City, KS | Free | Enjoy food and music while celebrating African American history and culture.
Sunday
Father’s Day at the Zoo | Sun., June 19 | 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | Kansas City Zoo | Price of admission | Celebrate “papa bears” with a complimentary drink at the zoo. 🥃
JFS Community Food Drive | Sun., June 19 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Jewish Community Center, 5801 W. 115 St., Overland Park, KS | Free | Help the local community by donating items such as toilet paper and crackers.
Monday
Chicago & Brian Wilson | Mon., June 20 | 7:15 p.m. | Starlight Theatre | $25+ | The duo will be joined by Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin. 🎶
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
More celebrities have been announced to make an appearance at Big Slick Celebrity Weekend. Nine-time Grammy winner and Missouri native Sheryl Crow is scheduled to perform. Other stars include She-Hulk’s Ginger Gonzaga + Sportscaster Joe Tessitore. Tickets for the event are on sale. (Kansas City Star)
Coming Soon
Tropical plant pop-up shop rOOTS KCis planting its own roots with its first brick-and-mortar space — 818 W. 17th St., KCMO. Each plant comes with instructions + a Roots KC contact to educate on proper plant care. Opening is scheduled for Fri., July 15.
Drink
Cocktails for a good cause? Count us in. Drastic Measures announced its Afterschool Swizzle cocktail — rum, peanut butter cordial, raspberry, blackberry, ruby port + lime. With every purchase, the bar will add $6 to its GoFundMe to help local teachers pay for school supplies.
Development
Overland Park’s Aspiria development on 115th Street and Nall Avenue is game for a new amenity — four pickleball courts. The courts would be surrounded by an 8-ft chain link fence with parking spaces nearby. Aspiria’s project completion is still estimated to take 7-10 years. (Blue Valley Post)
Holiday
This Sunday is Juneteenth, commemorating the end of institutional slavery in the US. It is a federal holiday, so expect closures on Monday in observance. Check out this list of things to do to commemorate. (The Kansas City Beacon)
Father’s Day is this Sunday. If you’re looking for spots to celebrate with Dad, relax with a drink at J. Rieger & Co. or make a splash with KC Watersports. Looking for more ideas? Here’s a complete list. (IN Kansas City)
Concert
Two Door Cinema Club is making its way to Kansas City. The band is scheduled to perform at Uptown Theater on Thurs., Nov 10. Tickets go on sale next Fri., June 24 at 10 a.m.
46% of millennials feel strongly about the effects of external factors such asrising interest rates and inflation, according to Opendoor’s financial considerations survey in their 2022 Trends Report. 🏡*
Eat
If getting organic poultry, grass-fed beef, heritage pork, wild game + more delivered straight from the farm to your dinner plate sounds like your foodie dream, D’Artagnan Foods can make it happen. Their small farms deliver overnight forguaranteed freshness. 🍽️*
Shop
Kansas City’s looking so bright we need sunglasses — Vincero sunglasses, that is. Your weekend adventures + happy hours deserve a great pair of shades, and Vincero premium eyewear checks all the boxes: High-quality, ethically made, and (best of all) 20% off. 🕶️ *
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Hopefully those HGTV binging sessions have paid off. KC Style Haus is celebrating its grand opening tomorrow, June 18 — at 4704 Wyandotte St. From unique decor to tasty treats, everything in the collection is crafted by local artisans. Store hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. every weekday, giving you ample opportunity to channel your inner interior designer.
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Editor’s pick: I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty excited about KC being one of the2026 FIFA World Cup host cities. This is my official PTO request years in advance, it’s never too early to plan ahead.
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