![Wriggling Free of Perfection [THE EEL]](https://jonathanrosenbaum.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/theeel.jpg)
![[Podcast] Making Brands Relevant: How to Connect Culture, Creativity & Commerce with Cyril Louis](https://justcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cyril-lewis-podcast-29.png)
Where to Eat, Play, and Stay for the Kansas City 2026 World Cup Matches
KC residents are some of the biggest soccer fans in the country.
Soccer may not be one of the first things most folks associate with Kansas City — but it should be. This Midwestern metropolis has quietly but quickly become the beating heart of American soccer over the past 25 years, turning into a city that doesn’t just watch the sport, but lives and breathes it. Soccer shows up everywhere in KC, from the obvious (the packed stands at Sporting KC games and the fan gear in every shop across town) to the more subtle. Expect even casual dinner conversations to veer into match analysis) during the soccer season.
That same all-in energy spills over into just about everything else Kansas City does. Yes, it’s a sports town through and through, but it’s also well-known for a few other things: barbecue that borders on religious devotion, a colorful and storied jazz scene, and a healthy dose of that famous ‘Midwest nice.’ Spend more than a few hours there, and you’ll see how KC’s passions — sports, food, music and hometown pride — intertwine in surprising ways.
As Kansas City prepares to take the global stage in 2026, that pride will be on full display. The city is home to not one but two professional outdoor soccer teams: Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City and the Kansas City Current of the National Women’s Soccer League, plus the Kansas City Comets, a Major Arena Soccer League team. The Heartland Soccer Association, the country’s largest youth league and one of the strongest pipelines for young talent in the US, also calls KC home.
So perhaps it’s no wonder KC earned the nickname “Soccer Capital of America” The title speaks to more than its championship teams or impressive venues. It’s one of the most inclusive and enthusiastic soccer cities in the country, with European-level fandom and support. Crowds routinely pack the Power & Light District to cheer on international matches, to the point where it’s become a go-to cutaway during televised World Cup games when the US scores.
Add to all that Kansas City’s central location smack-dab in the middle of the country, world-class stadiums, and a pioneering fare-free public transit system, and it’s easy to see why it was tapped as one of the hosts for the world’s biggest sporting event. With six World Cup matches on the schedule, including a quarterfinal, KC was practically designed to step into the spotlight.
Here’s what to do if you’re heading to any of the Kansas City World Cup matches.
Top things to do in Kansas City
Between Kansas City World Cup games, visitors can easily explore Kansas City — for free, no less — via the KC Streetcar. With convenient stops throughout the city’s entertainment districts, fans can ride from Country Club Plaza through the Crossroads Arts District, Power & Light and River Market, ending up near CPKC Stadium in the Berkley Riverfront neighborhood. For World Cup games, RideKC’s 47 Broadway line takes fans directly to Arrowhead Stadium. (Again, free of charge).
Explore the Kansas City Power & Light District
Photo: Vineyard Perspective/Shutterstock
This 12-block entertainment district in the center of downtown has dozens of dining, entertainment and shopping options at virtually any hour. That includes >No Other Pub, the official home of Sporting Kansas City watch parties. Make your first stop Rally House, where you can stock up on Sporting fan gear. The KC Live! block, affectionately dubbed “Kansas City’s living room,” anchors the district, with two stories of restaurants, bars, beer gardens and nightlife hotspots, as well as a large covered, open-air courtyard with a concert stage. The space will host numerous pop-up events and watch parties during the World Cup, in addition to the wildly popular Miller Lite Hot Country Nights concert series every Thursday. Sports fans shouldn’t skip the hands-on College Basketball Experience and National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, across the road from KC Live!
Power & Light District: 13 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64106
Dive into the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Photo: James Kirkikis/Shutterstock
Keep the sports theme going with a visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, celebrating Kansas City’s baseball history — or, more specifically, celebrating the Negro National League and the legendary Kansas City Monarchs. The museum sits in the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District, just two blocks from the exact spot where baseball player and manager Andrew “Rube” Foster created the Negro National League in 1920. Beyond the history of baseball itself, the museum also tackles the ballplayers’ ugly realities, including racism and segregation in both the sport and their daily lives.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum: 1616 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108
Get goofy at the Museum of BBQ
Photo: Museum of BBQ
Kansas City is synonymous with barbecue, and fully embraced the title with the April 2025 opening of the world’s first museum dedicated to it. Part photo op and part educational experience, the immersive museum gives visitors an in-depth look at the food’s surprisingly complex history and culture, exploring its various elements and famous BBQ regions including the Carolinas, Memphis, Texas and rival St. Louis. Notably, the museum is inside the Crown Center, which is also home to Hallmark’s headquarters and visitor center, as well as dozens of other family-friendly attractions. Tickets are only $10.
Museum of BBQ: 2450 Grand Blvd Ste 231, Kansas City, MO 64108
Where to eat and drink during the Kansas City World Cup
No Other Pub
This popular sports bar is the official home for Sporting KC watch parties and bound to be one of the best places to catch KC’s World Cup matches. Stop in for happy hour food and drink specials (4-7 PM Thursday and Friday), and $4 domestic drafts and $5 wells when you wear Sporting gear on game days.
No Other Pub: 1370 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64106
Strange Days Brewing Company
This brewery’s setup is awesome inside and out, with arcade games, eclectic decor (picture: a whole wall of mismatched retro TVs), and, most importantly for soccer fans, plenty of seating. Strange Days hosts watch parties for both men’s and women’s leagues, with opening hours that match obscure overseas start times.
Strange Days: 316 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64106
KC Bier Co.
A local go-to for Bundesliga (German league) games, this beloved brewery welcomes all types of soccer fans. The biergarten, bierhall, and authentic German-style beer and snacks like the Bavarian pretzels are perfect accompaniments for Cup games.
KC Bier Co.: 310 W 79th St, Kansas City, MO 64114
Pitchside Coffee
Fuel your love of soccer and caffeine at this coffee truck, owned and run by six KC Current players: Kristen Hamilton, Elizabeth Ball, Hailie Mace, Vanessa DiBernardo, Mallory Weber, and Desiree Scott. The truck hosts pop-up events around the city, makes regular appearances at First Fridays in the Crossroads Arts District, and serves fans at CPKC Stadium on game days.
Try BBQ across the city
With its world-class barbecue scene, sampling at least a couple of places is a must. Start with burnt ends, Kansas City’s signature creation, at Gates Bar-B-Q or Q39. The pulled pork from the iconic gas station location of Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que and brisket from Arthur Bryant’s are also worthy of a detour.
Where to stay during the Kansas City World Cup matches
Photo: Mihai_Andritoiu/Shutterstock
We hope you love the spaces and stays we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
Origin Kansas City Riverfront
Opened in late 2024 steps from CPKC Stadium, this pet-friendly boutique hotel offers guests complimentary bicycle rentals, an on-site restaurant and bar (Show Pony), and a location within walking distance of the streetcar. There’s also a Charlie Hustle retail location, so you can nab one of those iconic KC heart shirts. Rates start around $159 per night in the summer.
Crossroads Hotel
Crossroads Hotel is Missouri’s only Michelin-keyed hotel and occupies a former Pabst Brewing Depot in the historic Crossroads Art District. Expect industrial-chic vibes, with exposed brick and beams throughout the building, plus a perpetually buzzing cafe, Italian restaurant, and rooftop bar, called Percheron. Rooms start around $225 per night in the summer.
Hotel Kansas City
Old meets new at Hotel Kansas City, a Gothic Revival–style luxury downtown hotel that was once the ultra-exclusive Kansas City Social Club, hosting the likes of Harry Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Guests can sip cocktails in the lobby bar or in the speakeasy-esque Nighthawk, or score a coveted reservation at The Town Company, helmed by a James Beard-nominated chef. Rates start around $200 per night in the summer.
An Airbnb steps from the stadium
If a home rental is more your thing, this bright and updated home near the stadium has four bedrooms and three bathrooms, plus a roomy kitchen and free parking. It’s loaded with everything from coffee to throw pillows and has a rare five-star rating. As with all Airbnbs in World Cup cities, the owners advise booking ASAP if you’re planning to visit for the event.
