Morning Kickoff: The World Cup's Impact on Southwest Missouri

Tuesday morning, November 18th, learn the impact the 2026 FIFA World Cup games will have on the greater Kansas City region and what to expect in southwest Missouri.

Visit Joplin and the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce are co-hosting a Morning Kickoff: The World Cup's Impact on Southwest Missouri presentation with Jim Rowland of the Missouri Division of Tourism.

Kansas City is one of 16 North American cities hosting soccer matches between June 11 and July 19. Six matches will be played at Arrowhead Stadium between June 16 and July 11. The grounds of the World War I Museum will be converted to host an extensive fan village.

Jim will highlight the multi-year planning efforts that have been completed, some of which are still in development, and a few challenges yet to be fulfilled.

He will also detail the broader economic impact of the games and how guests from around the globe could benefit communities outside Kansas City, including those that could impact southwest Missouri, and our connection in relation to the Route 66 Centennial.

This is a big deal! The 2026 FIFA World Cup is full of firsts before the games even start. For the first time, three nations will host, 48 teams will participate, and 104 matches will be played. It will truly be an epic event, putting Kansas City and the region on the world stage.

The Morning Kickoff will be held at the Joplin Holiday Inn, with coffee and pastries served at 8:30 a.m., followed by a 45-minute presentation starting at 9:00 a.m.

Join us in welcoming Jim to Joplin and learning Joplin’s role in the games.

BACKGROUND:

The FIFA World Cup is the most prestigious Association Football (soccer) tournament and the most widely viewed and followed single sporting event globally.

The viewership of the 2018 World Cup was estimated to be 3.57 billion, representing nearly half of the world’s population, while the engagement with the 2022 World Cup was estimated to be 5 billion, with approximately 1.5 billion people watching the final match.

In 2026, soccer's grandest stage, the FIFA World Cup, will be played on the largest footprint in the game's history. The games began in 1930 and have been held consecutively every four years since, except during the period of World War II.