Kansas City looking ahead to '26 World Cup tourism, revenue
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — More than 28 million visitors came to Kansas City in 2024, according to VisitKC, and those visitors spent a total of $4 billion.
At VisitKC's Annual Tourism Outlook on Wednesday, they shared the details of visitors and investment for 2024, as well as looking ahead to future events, like the 2026 World Cup.
KC mayor eyes legislation to combat predatory towing
'When you think about that unique visitor coming to Kansas City and their takeaway of 'This was such a fun city, I want to come back and vacation.' That's where my heart goes when you hear those stories,' said VisitKC President and CEO Kathy Nelson about her highlight of 2024.
VisitKC reported record levels of business travel in 2024. 523 events helped fill nearly 528 thousand hotel room nights. That travel accounted for $370 million in economic impact. They also shared that visitors planned 326,000 incremental trips to KC, bringing in another $283 million in spending.
One of Nelson's proudest accomplishments is their marketing campaign. They said that every dollar spent on advertising returned an average of $148 per visitor in spending.
'That's a thing,' Nelson said.
'I mean, it's hard to get any ROI like that.'
Looking ahead means looking towards the FIFA World Cup in 2026, when Kansas City will host 6 matches starting on June 16, 2026.
'The global spotlight on Kansas City will be like nothing we've ever seen before,' Nelson said.
'It's one shot in our lifetime to get this right.'
Nelson shared that Kansas City is ahead in transportation plans compared to other cities. She said FIFA approved phase one of their plan, and they've already secured buses for the event, the first host city to do so.
KCPS breaks ground on new campus for school district
Nelson also shared concerns that the number of international travelers might decrease in 2025.
'There's always concerns, no matter what the situation is with the federal government,' she said.
'It is concerning. There's no doubt when you see numbers that are declining instead of growing.'
Despite the concern, Nelson says the occasion is not being taken for granted.
'We can't take this for granted. We're going to be a year out in June,' she said.
Her goal is that international travelers come to a place that they probably haven't been before.
'They may have been in Miami or New York or L.A., but they don't know what Kansas City is,' Nelson said.
'So, it's on us in these coming months to get them to go, 'I got to make a stop in Kansas City.''
The FIFA World Cup matches begin in Kansas City on June 16, 2026.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
19 minutes ago
- Tom's Guide
How to watch Argentina vs Colombia: Live stream 2026 World Cup qualifier online from anywhere
The Argentina vs Colombia live stream is a must-win game for the visitors as they attempt to end a run of four straight defeats and keep alive their chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup — and you can watch it from anywhere with a VPN and potentially for FREE! The Argentina vs Colombia live stream takes place on Tuesday, June 10. • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT / 1 a.m. BST (Wed) / 10 a.m. AEST (Wed)• FREE STREAM — SBS On Demand (Australia)• U.K. — Premier Sports• U.S. — Telemundo via Fubo• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk free Despite having already secured their place at next year's World Cup, Argentina are showing no signs of letting up. Lionel Scaloni's side defeated Chile 1-0 last week and have now won 11 of their 15 CONMEBOL qualifying matches and are 10 points clear with three games remaining. La Albiceleste will now be seeking a fifth straight victory in front of their home supporters and may well start Lionel Messi after he came off the bench on Tuesday. Sitting sixth in the table after just one win from seven games, Colombia are still in the final qualifying spot but are feeling the pressure after Venezuela moved to within three points following two consecutive victories. Desperate to end his poor run of form, Nestor Lorenzo's team can look back positively on the reverse fixture when they secured a 2-1 victory over Argentina. They will also welcome back Liverpool star Luis Diaz, the joint-top goalscorer in qualifying alongside Messi, from suspension. Here's how to watch Argentina vs Colombia live streams from anywhere in the world, and potentially for free. If you're in Australia you're in luck as you can watch a Argentina vs Colombia live stream for FREE. It will be streamed online on the SBS On Demand along with all other CONMEBOL qualifiers. Traveling abroad right now? You can use a VPN to watch all the action as if you were back home. NordVPN is our top pick of the options and we'll show you how to access it below. Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching soccer on your usual subscription? You can still watch Argentina vs Colombia live thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It's the best on the market: There's a good reason you've heard of NordVPN. We specialize in testing and reviewing VPN services and NordVPN is the one we rate best. It's outstanding at unblocking streaming services, it's fast and it has top-level security features too. With over 7,000 servers, across 115+ countries, and at a great price too, it's easy to recommend. Get up to 70% off NordVPN with this deal Using a VPN is incredibly simple. 1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite. 2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're away from Australia, and want to view SBS as usual, you'd select an Australia server from the list. 3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head over to SBS On Demand and enjoy! Viewers in the U.S. can watch Argentina vs Colombia live stream on Telemundo. Telemundo may be accessible as part of your cable package. If you've cut the cord, then you can also stream the game on Fubo. It's got a 7-day free trial so you don't need to pay upfront and has dozens of sports channels, including NBC, USA, NBCSN and TYC Sports via its $84.99 per month Pro Plan. Not currently in the USA but want to catch the match? You can use a VPN to watch all the action as if you were back home. NordVPN is our top pick of the options. Football fans in the U.K. will need a Premier Sports subscription to watch the Argentina vs Colombia live stream. Packages start from £10.99 per month and the game will be broadcast on the Premier Sports 1 channel. You can sign up directly with Premier Sports, but you can also subscribe to their channels via Sky TV or Virgin TV or Amazon Prime Video. If you're in the U.K. and want to watch your subscriptions from back home, use a good VPN like NordVPN. Argentina vs Colombia is available on the Canadian version of Fanatiz. There are two PPV options for Canadian viewers with the $49.99 deal for the Colombia PPV package. Or if you want access to the majority of CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers this month, go for the $99.99 deal. If you're out of Canada and want to watch access your Fanatiz subscription from back home, use a good VPN like NordVPN. Argentina vs Colombia is being shown on SBS on TV Down Under, and you can watch Chile vs Argentina online for FREE via the SBS On Demand streaming service and app. It kicks off at 11 a.m. AEST on Friday morning. If you're away from Australia right now and want to watch your usual subscription from back home, use a quality VPN like NordVPN. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
2026 World Cup Odds: Latest World Cup Betting Odds
Argentina won the previous edition of the World Cup and will be favourites to do so again in 2026 (Getty Images) The countdown is on to the 2026 World Cup and betting sites have priced up the world's top international sides as they get set to contend for the biggest prize in football. The USA, Canada, and Mexico will combine to host the 23rd and biggest edition of the tournament, which will involve 48 nations. Advertisement The 2026 World Cup odds suggest it will be a tight tournament with Spain, France, Brazil, England, current holders Argentina and Germany all 11/1 or shorter in the World Cup outright market. This page will detail the latest World Cup betting odds for the next tournament. We use the latest World Cup odds from the best football betting sites to offer readers optimum value on wagering on the 2026 edition of the competition. Readers will find not only the top value on World Cup winner odds but also markets for match and group betting as soon as they become available. All football betting odds come from our recommended betting sites, all of which are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. World Cup Betting Odds: Outright Winner The 2026 World Cup betting odds are dominated by the usual contenders with Spain and France on course to kick-off as the top two in the market. Advertisement Spain are the reigning European champions and have one of the deepest squads in world football. But France, who have been involved in the last two World Cup finals, also have a vast talent pool with Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue just some of the attacking options at their disposal. Argentina kicked-off the last World Cup second in the betting, but there have been previous winners from further down the list of contenders with France (7/1) fourth in the market in 2018 and Germany (6/1) third in 2014. It's worth keeping in mind that Italy in 1982 were the last double-figure winner of the World Cup having entered that tournament as 18/1 shots. Since then, all the winners have started at World Cup odds of 8/1 or less. Year Winner Host nation World Cup Odds Argentina Qatar 11/2 France Russia 7/1 Germany Brazil 6/1 Spain South Africa 7/2 Italy Germany 8/1 *Odds taken from World Cup Betting Odds: Match betting Other than the hosts, only seven more countries have qualified for the competition so far, and the draw for the group stages will likely be in December 2025. Advertisement Argentina, Japan and New Zealand are among those to have qualified, with the full fixtures for the group stages likely to be released a few months before June 2026. Be sure to check back when the teams and groups have been announced. World Cup Odds Explained Our recommended betting sites are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, ensuring that users have a safe and fair betting experience. All World Cup odds and markets change to reflect matters on and off the field, so check regularly to find the best odds for your World Cup bets. Bettors can also take advantage of free bets provided by the UK betting sites for wagering on the World Cup and more. Advertisement The World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events on the planet and bookmakers are usually generous when it comes to free bet offers, price boosts, money back bonuses and more. Responsible gambling When having a bet, it's vital to practice responsible gambling. When using gambling sites be aware that sports betting can be addictive. Please take steps to remain in control of your time and budget. The same applies whether you're using new betting sites, slot sites, casino sites, casino apps, betting apps, or any other gambling medium. Even the most knowledgeable punter can lose a bet, so always stick to a budget and never chase your losses. Advertisement It's particularly important not to get carried away by any free bets or casino offers you might receive, both of which are available in abundance on gambling sites, but must be approached with caution. You can stay in control by making use of the responsible gambling tools offered, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs. You may also want to visit the following free organisations to discuss any issues with gambling you might be having: We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
When will a team from North America, Asia or Africa win the men's World Cup?
We're now a year-ish from the World Cup. The tournament is still dominated by European and South American teams. But which continent without a winner (Asia, Africa, Central and North America and, I guess, Oceania) has the best chance of lifting the trophy first? – Stacey Advertisement This is a fascinating question and one that brings a wide range of factors into play. To start, what difference will the expansion of the tournament make? On one hand, extending the tournament so the winner will have to get through eight games rather than seven probably makes shocks less likely, but on the other hand an extra knockout round adds another layer of randomness. Even with four knockout rounds, most champions usually had at least one game of significant jeopardy – a win on penalties, or an edgy one-goal victory after extra-time. Winning all five knockout games in 90 minutes, I suspect, will prove extremely rare but the likelihood is still that the winner will be one of the major European powers – France, Spain, Germany, England, Portugal, Italy and the Netherlands – or one of the big two from South America – Argentina and Brazil. On a similar note, weight of numbers should help the other confederations: 15 of the 32 qualifiers in 2022 were from outside Uefa and Conmebol; in 2026 either 25 or 26 of 48 will be. That should increase the chance of a side hitting a run of exceptional form at the right time. But this isn't just about confederations. Between 2006 and 2018, 13 of 16 semi-finalists in the World Cup were European. There was a clear sense within the game that the major western European nations had in effect industrialised youth production – to the extent that the majority of, say, Morocco's squad in 2022, had been trained in France. Add a wealthy league in which the best of a nation's youth can gain an exceptional and immediate education and the advantage enjoyed by western Europe is clear. Argentina bucked that trend in 2022, in part because of the brilliance of Lionel Messi, and in part because of its remarkable reserves of coaching talent (seven of the 10 Conmebol nations are managed by Argentinians, and that's without counting Óscar Ibáñez, who was born in Argentina but played for and now manages Peru). But to return to the specifics of the question: money helps, so the USA, Mexico and Canada have at least a slim chance of success. Africa has the talent but its football – and this is obviously a generalisation – is beset by poverty and corruption. Morocco showed their capacity in Qatar, and if, say, Nigeria or Senegal managed to find an enlightened coach who could bypass all the political issues at the same time they had a gifted generation, there's no reason there couldn't be an African winner – although it doesn't feel imminent. Advertisement Asia, perhaps, is most likely, although we're probably only talking about three countries at the moment. Japan and South Korea have been regular World Cup qualifiers, their level has improved dramatically, there is money to invest, a deep-rooted passion for the game, and their players are increasingly gaining experience at the best clubs. Or there's Saudi Arabia, a traditional power in the Asian game, and hosts in 2034. We're yet to see what impact all the Saudi PIF's investment in football will have, but money, a political will to succeed, an improving league must give them at least an outside chance with home advantage in eight years. As an American, I defy anyone to argue the 1994 World Cup jersey is not the best in soccer history. Do you have any personal favorites? – Matt I confess I find the fetishisation of shirts a little odd. I hate over-fussy shirts, and I wish Sunderland would go back to black socks, but I'm not sure there are any shirts I really love. I was talking to a friend about this on the way to the Championship play-off final, looking at the masses of red-and-white all around while we were both wearing very neutral check shirts. We wondered whether it's because in our formative years of going to games, away games especially, in the late 80s and early 90s, it was useful to be able to blend into the background if any violence kicked off. Advertisement But I suppose if pressed, I always quite liked the simple Adidas, early 80s, plain colour with three stripes along the sleeves – the pale-blue West Germany goalkeeper's top in particular. What will predominate: the next tactical evolution, or the rise of the nation-state owner in European and English football? – Andrew I don't think you can separate the two. Ownership, whether state or otherwise, necessarily creates the conditions in which the game is played. So Pep Guardiola, for instance, was in effect asked to devise his ideal environment at Manchester City, and the result was six league titles in seven seasons. City's owners had the financial might to attract him to the club, to give him the facilities he needed and to provide an extremely high-level squad. As a result, there was little need to compromise on his principles as a manager at a less wealthy club might have had to. Advertisement Or take Paris Saint-Germain. Coach after coach was undermined by the club's insistence on signing major stars, which may have been good for the brand, but left the team on the pitch looking distinctly unbalanced. Once the club changed approach, Luis Enrique was able to put together the side that won the Champions League. What was necessary was the money to buy a squad good enough, but also owners prepared to let a sporting director and manager put together a coherent side free from the egos of the celebrities they had previously been burdened with. It's probably my age – I've watched football for nearly 70 years – but I really miss old-fashioned wingers, playing on the 'correct' wing, beating their defender on the outside and providing crosses for their fellow attackers. The case for inverted wingers seems to be that coming 'inside' on to their stronger foot increases their chances of shooting and scoring. It's now de rigueur for wingers to be inverted. Does the likelihood of inverted wingers scoring goals by coming inside really compensate for the fewer effective crosses they make for their fellow attackers? – Derek I agree that there remains something aesthetically very pleasing about a centre-forward meeting an outswinging cross with a header – Alexander Isak's goal from Anthony Gordon's cross for Newcastle against Arsenal last season, for instance – but I suspect that ship has sailed. Advertisement Herbert Chapman was arguing that a focus on wingers crossing for forwards was inefficient 100 years ago, and most modern theory seems to agree with him. The preference now is either for wide players cutting infield – Peter Taylor was a pioneer in England, but Dennis Tueart and others did it as well – or to work the ball to the goalline for a low cutback – the classic Manchester City goal of a couple of seasons ago. One of the reasons wide forwards now cut inside is the explosion in attacking full-backs, who now provide most of the width. A full-back could go inside, as say Trent Alexander-Arnold or João Cancelo do, but that is relatively rare and if the full-back is going on the outside, the wide forward has go inside to create space for him. I think there's also a recognition that forwards cutting in, often against the defender's weaker foot, is very hard to combat – hence the rise in the sort of goal Lamine Yamal seems to score every week, whipping the ball into the far corner. On this day … Kevin Keegan was perhaps the first English player, certainly in the postwar years, to make a success of a move to a European giant. He left Liverpool in 1977 for Hamburg, where he won the league in 1978-79 and was twice named European Footballer of the Year. He also marketed himself with an eagerness unusual in English players of the time, becoming a bona fide celebrity. And, on 9 June 1979, he released his second, but by some distance his most successful single, Head Over Heels in Love. Advertisement His first single, It Ain't Easy, had been released in 1972, just a year after he'd moved to Liverpool from Scunthorpe and made very little impression. But Head Over Heels reached No 31 in the UK charts, and No 10 in Germany. And this is where those of a nervous disposition should look away. Keegan gave a preview of the song on Das Aktuelle Sport-Studio. His German seems very good, but that thought soon fades as he gets to the performance …
