Despite being the smallest U.S. host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Kansas City has become an unexpected hotspot. Three top seeds-Argentina, England, and the Netherlands-have chosen this Midwestern hub as their base camp.
KC sits at the confluence of two rivers and straddles two states. The Missouri side will host six games at Arrowhead Stadium, including a quarter-final. Argentina will train on the quieter Kansas side; England will stay nearby.
The city's central location minimizes travel for matches. It boasts world-class training facilities, including the KC Current's complex, where the Netherlands will practice. Head coach Ronald Koeman called it the 'best option.'
Some 650,000 visitors are expected. Hotel bookings lag behind expectations, but locals promise a warm welcome. 'It's going to be much bigger portions than anyone in Europe is going to be used to,' warned a regular at Joe's Bar-B-Que.