World Cup

Many World Cup ticket holders felt deceived this month when FIFA assigned precise seat numbers to their already-purchased tickets. At the same time, FIFA hiked ticket prices for nearly every game — including an 87% increase for Kansas City's Argentina vs. Algeria match.

Visitors from several countries that have already qualified for the World Cup will have to pay bonds of up to $15,000 to enter the U.S. while federal bans travel affect another 39 nations.

The bill allows Kansas liquor stores, restaurants and bars to remain open 23 hours a day, seven days a week, during the World Cup. It also opens the door to homeowners interested in renting their properties from May to July without obstacles imposed by cities or counties.

Kansas City International Airport is preparing for what could be the busiest time in its history during the summer World Cup games. One large task will be translating airport signs into the languages spoken by visiting national teams and their fans.

Want to see a 2026 World Cup game? A "last-minute” sales phase opened at 10 a.m. Wednesday. FIFA says demand for matches is high, and attendance could surpass the record previously set during the 1994 tournament.

Bill clears liquor businesses to run 23 hours a day, removes local barriers to home rentals

Proponents are worried that soccer fans in Johnson and Wyandotte counties will cross the border to bars and stores in Missouri, which already passed legislation to extend liquor sales to 23 hours of the day.

The money will help Kansas City pay for police overtime, buy more cruisers and put ambassadors on public transit ahead of this summer's World Cup. Kansas City will host six matches, and the metro will be the base camp for four teams.

Between Kansas City's six games, multiple base camps, and an influx of an estimated 650,000 visitors, Kansas is expecting a strain on public safety, emergency and transportation services. The disaster declaration sets up Kansas to receive federal assistance.

The city of Lawrence, Kansas, and the University of Kansas will host Algeria’s national team at Rock Chalk Park, on KU’s campus. Kansas City emerged as the country's most popular host for World Cup training sites, with all four of its possible locations claimed.