Kansas City, Missouri, will host six FIFA World Cup matches in June and July 2026, including a round-of-32 match and a quarter-final. Algeria, Argentina, England and the Netherlands will base themselves in the Kansas City metropolitan area during the tournament.

The metropolitan area, which straddles the state border between Kansas and Missouri and has roughly 2.5 million people, is one of the tournament's smallest host cities. The region is home to the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League and hosts the Big 12 college basketball tournament. Argentina's national team will stay on the Berkley Riverfront esplanade, which was renovated by Port KC and the NWSL team KC Current in 2021 as part of a long-term commitment to improve soccer infrastructure in the area.

KC 2026 organisers are collaborating with FIFA and state and local officials from Kansas and Missouri to set up an official fan festival at the National WWI Museum and Memorial. The festival will be free and open for 18 days during June and July, featuring live match broadcasts, community-driven events and watch parties for different neighbourhoods.

KC 2026 chief executive officer Pam Kramer and her staff have been developing KC Game Plan, an initiative to help small and locally owned businesses prepare for the tournament. The playbook, available in English and Spanish, offers cyber training, data on expected visitors and hospitality guides, among other tools. "When visitors arrive, they encounter Kansas City businesses that are ready to meet demand and confident in showcasing what makes them unique," Kramer said.

Kramer pointed to longstanding regional investment in the sport. "Over the past 15 years, this region has invested nearly $700m (£520m) in soccer infrastructure," she said.

Doug Langner, executive director of the community homeless shelter Hope Faith, said the city's homeless population numbers roughly 2,000 people and said those residents "are going to get squeezed out." Langner asked, "How do we connect the people who could use that bump the most to those opportunities?"

Local empanada business owner Alejandro Cabero will organise a pre-game Argentinian street party, a banderazo, the day before the Argentina versus Algeria match on 16 June. Cabero said he was preparing food for about 600 people but expects as many as 10,000. His business will offer flavours inspired by visiting nations, such as paella, bratwurst and shepherd's pie.

"I think it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Cabero said. "When I came here there was no soccer around. The KC Wizards had fewer than 3,000 fans. It's amazing."