World Cup’s Smallest Host City Is Spending Big on Tournament Prep

Kansas City is ready for its close-up.

Although it's the smallest of the 16 cities hosting the World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, it has allocated a $165 million budget for the tournament.

That's in addition to the hundreds of millions of dollars it's already spent to establish itself as the "Soccer Capital of America."

"Over the past 15 years, this region has invested nearly $700 million in soccer infrastructure," Pam Kramer, CEO of KC2026—the nonprofit overseeing the city's planning for the World Cup—tells Realtor.com®.

"That long-term commitment, not a short-term build for a tournament, is what positioned Kansas City as a trusted partner and ready to host," she says. "The facilities matter, but so does the intentionality behind them. We’re a soccer culture—and that’s reflected in the quality of the pitch, the recovery options for elite athletes, and the understanding of how an environment contributes to a winning culture."

The Midwestern city will host six World Cup matches starting in June and will host four national teams as official Team Base Camps.

Some 650,000 visitors from across the globe are expected to pour into the city.

AirDNA—a firm that compiles and analyzes industry data for short-term rentals such as Vrbo and Airbnb—tells Realtor.com that Kansas City has experienced a 161% increase in demand.

Airbnb hosts in Kansas City can expect to earn approximately $3,500 on average over the duration of the tournament, according to a recent Deloitte analysis.

"The buzz around the World Cup is a huge deal," Kansas City real estate agent Rachel Kilmer of ReeceNichols tells Realtor.com. "I have several clients who are renting out their primary home as short-term rentals. It could give Kansas Citians a boost in income during a tough economic time."

To prepare for the influx of soccer fans, Kansas City has rebuilt its airport from the ground up and renovated the Chiefs’ football stadium.

"Kansas City's World Cup moment is essentially a global commercial as international viewers will be introduced to a city they may not be familiar with," says Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com. "That kind of visibility could translate to tourism investment, business interest, and a perception shift that attracts new residents and capital."

Kramer calls this "a generational moment for our region."

She adds, "Kansas City may be the smallest U.S. host city, but we sit at the heart of the country—and we intend to show the world what that means."

World Cup implications for Kansas City real estate

"For real estate, the more durable effect won't be the tournament itself but what comes after," says Jones. "When a city successfully hosts at that scale, it can accelerate demand in already desirable neighborhoods, and Kansas City's still-affordable price base means there's meaningful room for appreciation as newly aware buyers and investors act."

The median home listing price in Kansas City is $400,000—about $15,450 below the national median. Meanwhile, the city’s median rent is $1,387, making it roughly 16.8% more affordable than the national average.

"Investors have been thinking about the World Cup and planning for it the most," Kilmer says. "I have worked with a couple that had some houses they were going to flip anyway, but they've doubled down on an accelerated timeline to have them finished by the tournament. Overall, everyone is super excited to showcase our city on a world stage."

Kramer agrees: "The World Cup will bring global attention to our region, and that kind of spotlight creates enormous opportunity—economically and culturally."

Other cities prepare for the World Cup

Kansas City isn’t alone in betting big on the tournament.

While global hubs like Miami, New York City, and Los Angeles are accustomed to hosting major international events, the World Cup is a rarer opportunity for cities such as Seattle and Houston to step onto that stage.

In Seattle, state lawmakers approved $45 million for World Cup preparations—allocating $19.4 million to upgrade Lumen Field and directing the remaining funds toward transportation improvements, law enforcement, practice facilities, and enhanced city-cleaning services.

Seattle is hosting six matches and is expecting 750,000 visitors. Airbnb hosts in the city are expected to make $3,800 on average over the duration of the tournament—and AirDNA says demand is up by 96%.

"The Seattle condo market hasn't fully recovered since the [COVID-19] pandemic, but maybe the World Cup will bring new eyes to downtown," Seattle real estate agent Jessie Culbert Boucher of Compass tells Realtor.com. Any time Seattle is in the spotlight, that's probably a good thing and a reason to feel optimistic."

Meanwhile, in Houston, officials have secured roughly $64.7 million in federal funding for World Cup preparations—primarily for security and public safety—while also investing about $30 million in infrastructure upgrades like downtown improvements as the city prepares to host seven matches and an expected 500,000 visitors.

"In Houston, there’s clear buzz around the World Cup, and it’s visible in the city itself," Ahmed Harhara, founder of HoustonHomeTools.com, tells Realtor.com. "Infrastructure work has picked up ahead of the event, including long-delayed road repairs, accelerated highway projects, new restaurant openings, and refreshed bike lanes. Large events tend to compress timelines on projects that were already planned, which adds to the sense that the city is actively getting ready rather than simply hosting."

Airbnb hosts in Houston are expected to make an average of $3,000 each during the World Cup—and AirDNA says demand there is up by 96%.

With a global spotlight on host cities such as Houston, the World Cup also has the potential to draw an entirely new pool of homebuyers.

"I've not had any buyers mention the World Cup as a motivating factor yet. However, I would not be surprised if buyers began to flock here as the date gets closer," Ashley Peterson, a real estate agent with Douglas Elliman in Houston, tells Realtor.com.