Will the 2026 World Cup affect your travel plans in 2026? ⚽️ 🏟🏆

[sam_gordon]

Yes, we've got a round of 32 and a quarter final.

That's my point. Obviously it's going to be a longer influence than sites that just host pool play.

 

[Buzz Rules]

So you're a fan from say Kenya. The group stage is in LA. You arrange to go to the group stage, and Kenya is knocked out. You're going to stick around in LA for the watch parties for the next three weeks?

Or let's say you're from France. Group stage is LA. Their knockout match is in KC. Are you going to stay in LA because that's where the watch party is?

Some fans base themselves in a particular city that they want to vacation in or have theme parks they plan to go to. Many fans save up for 4 years to go to a world cup. Typically fans stay 1 to 2 weeks. Others stay for 3 to 4 weeks.

 

[AussieFan8]

That's my point. Obviously it's going to be a longer influence than sites that just host pool play.

Maybe so, but they keep talking about crowds for about six weeks, not just two. It may also be because we're a smaller city and the only city in the Midwest hosting. I guess we'll see next year! My husband is a soccer super fan so he's very excited.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Maybe so, but they keep talking about crowds for about six weeks, not just two. It may also be because we're a smaller city and the only city in the Midwest hosting. I guess we'll see next year! My husband is a soccer super fan so he's very excited.

Do you root for the Socceroos and the Stars and Stripes then?

 

[AussieFan8]

We root for the KC Current! My husband watches a lot of the national team games and really loves the Premier League. We got to see a women's game at the Tottenham stadium last May which was pretty cool!

 

[Buzz Rules]

We root for the KC Current! My husband watches a lot of the national team games and really loves the Premier League. We got to see a women's game at the Tottenham stadium last May which was pretty cool!

Ah, the NWSL, that's cool. The US national team is playing at 2:30 pm ET today on TNT. Just an FYI. I'm an Aston Villa fan, so I'm excited about how they will do against Arsenal today. Do you guys root for Sporting KC as well or just the NWSL team?

 

[AussieFan8]

You sound like a big soccer fan as well! Yes, we root for Sporting and have been to some games, but we especially like the Current games. CPKC stadium is amazing and a lot of fun; we feel fortunate to have the first stadium for professional women's soccer and want to support it. Hoping to get season tickets in a year or two.

My husband roots for any team that is playing against Manchester United lol. Unfortunately, as a Chiefs fan, I think there are a lot of NFL fans now who feel the same about my Chiefs!

 

[Buzz Rules]

You sound like a big soccer fan as well!

The 100s of threads hasn't given that away yet?

Yes, we root for Sporting and have been to some games, but we especially like the Current games. CPKC stadium is amazing and a lot of fun; we feel fortunate to have the first stadium for professional women's soccer and want to support it. Hoping to get season tickets in a year or two.

That's awsome to hear. Are you originally from Australia? I ask only because of your name.

My husband roots for any team that is playing against Manchester United lol. Unfortunately, as a Chiefs fan, I think there are a lot of NFL fans now who feel the same about my Chiefs!

My dad likes MU and my mom likes Crystal Palace. I'm happy my NY Giants have been put out of their misery this season.

 

[AussieFan8]

The 100s of threads hasn't given that away yet?

Lol - I don't pay too much attention to soccer conversations, but this one caught my eye since KC is a host city.

That's awsome to hear. Are you originally from Australia? I ask only because of your name.

Nope, I can see why you would have thought that! It's a reference to our dog breed preference - Australian Shepherds.

I'm happy my NY Giants have been put out of their misery this season.

Don't give up hope! You never know when they'll turn things around - look at the Chiefs!

 

[Buzz Rules]

Lol - I don't pay too much attention to soccer conversations, but this one caught my eye since KC is a host city.

Nope, I can see why you would have thought that! It's a reference to our dog breed preference - Australian Shepherds.

Don't give up hope! You never know when they'll turn things around - look at the Chiefs!

 

[ctonkgo]

I'll be attending all the USMNT games. LA -> Seattle -> LA and beyond if they make it out of the group stage. On the DVC side of things I would imagine that availability in LA will be hard to come by during June/July next year.

Probably won't be going to Disney much in 2026 as a result. Tickets direct through FIFA or U.S. Soccer's allotment won't be cheap but resale is going to be absolutely crazy. When you add in the cost of traversing the entire continent to follow your team through the tournament it gets very expensive.

 

[ctonkgo]

This may be the case in larger cities, but they are anticipating some pretty significant impacts to KC based on the expected influx of tourism. The college I work at has been having conversations all year about how to manage things, with the possibility of all or some summer classes going virtual so that students and employees don't have to work around the increased traffic and issues. There will be a great need for parking for all of the activities, and we may be providing space for that as well. Road construction has ramped up considerably here to ensure all highways are open and available. I have heard hotels will be full for about a 200 mile radius.

KC is getting 4 group stage matches, a newly added "Round of 32" match, and a quarter final match. The amount of tourism could vary depending on the World Cup draw (which decides which 4-team group a team plays in, and where their matches will be located). The quarter final will sell out for sure. Any game involving the United States/Mexico or a South American powerhouse like Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, or Uruguay will be a guaranteed sell out at Arrowhead even in the group stage.

It will be interesting to see how many neutral fans turn up for a potential match like "Iran vs. Ivory Coast", which do not have large groups of traveling fans at international tournaments.