🏆 Local Businesses Asked for Help.

Here's How You Show Up.

The World Cup is the biggest crowd Kansas City has ever hosted, and most of that traffic is flowing to the matches and fan zones.
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The local spots that make KC what it is — the corner restaurants, the neighborhood bars, the shops you actually love — don't get a cut of stadium concessions.
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​A lot of them have shared that this is one of the worst months they've had. They need the crowd to come find them, out-of-towners and locals alike. And here's the part worth remembering: when the tournament packs up and leaves town, those local businesses are the ones still standing right here.
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Supporting them now is how KC stays KC after the world goes home.
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Here's how to do it: pull up the World Cup Guide. It's 200+ local KC businesses in one place — where to eat, where to drink, where to catch the matches, and where the city actually gathers. Browse by what you're in the mood for, find the watch parties and World Cup specials, and skip the chains.
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Every visit, every order, every share keeps a local spot going.

​Get the full story here.​

👀 This Week Around KC

⚽ FIFA CALLS KC'S FIRST WORLD CUP GAME A 'STRONG OPERATIONAL OUTCOME' AS ORGANIZERS OWN TRAFFIC PROBLEMS​

FIFA on June 18 defended its handling of Kansas City's first World Cup match, calling it a "strong operational outcome" a day after KC2026 admitted fans hit "significant delays" getting into the Truman Sports Complex. The June 16 game drew at or near Kansas City Stadium's 69,000 capacity for Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria, where Lionel Messi scored his first World Cup hat trick and tied the tournament's all-time goals record. One ConnectKC shuttle rider said the trip from Johnson County took two hours, and FIFA ran just two stadium entrances for the match versus eight at Chiefs games. KC2026 set a transportation briefing for Friday, with the next match, Ecuador vs. Curacao, Saturday at 7 p.m. and gates opening at 4 p.m.

🔋 PANASONIC'S $4B DE SOTO PLANT MAY ADD DATA-CENTER BATTERIES AS EV DEMAND SLOWS​

Panasonic will convert part of its $4 billion De Soto, Kansas battery plant to make batteries for AI data centers, a shift announced at the company's June 8 investor day after softer consumer EV sales and federal tax-credit changes. EV cell production continues at the 4.7 million-square-foot plant, which opened in July 2025 and employs about 1,800 of a planned 4,000 workers. The first data-center battery cells are expected in late 2028 or early 2029, part of a roughly $2.2 billion global investment over three years. Panasonic Energy projects the data-center business will help lift its sales from about $2 billion in fiscal 2026 to a $6.2 billion target by fiscal 2029.

✈️ KCI HAS ITS SECOND-BUSIEST DEPARTURE DAY EVER AS WORLD CUP FANS FLY OUT​

Kansas City International Airport screened 23,493 outbound travelers on June 17, its second-busiest departure day ever and just 185 short of the all-time record set May 18, 2025. The surge came as World Cup fans left after the Argentina vs. Algeria match, including an Aerolineas Argentinas charter flying attendees out of MCI. Extra security staffing from screening contractor VMD held average wait times to 2 to 4 minutes. Deputy Director of Aviation Justin Meyer called it MCI's busiest Wednesday in its 54-year history, part of a summer travel surge expected to continue through the World Cup in June and July.

🏈 MAHOMES STOPS TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS FOR KIDS WHILE FILMING A STATE FARM AD IN KC​

Patrick Mahomes drew a crowd while shooting a State Farm commercial in a Kansas City neighborhood, then stayed after the cameras stopped to meet kids and sign autographs. The Chiefs quarterback has been out since tearing his left ACL and LCL on December 14 in a 16-13 loss to the Chargers, the injury that ended his 2025 season and kept Kansas City out of the playoffs for the first time since 2014. He had surgery in Dallas with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Dan Cooper and is targeting a Week 1 return, with the 2026 NFL season opening September 10. The clip came from Chiefstalk on X.

💆 WOODHOUSE SPA IS OPENING AT OLATHE'S NORTHRIDGE PLAZA, ITS SECOND KC-AREA SPOT​

Woodhouse Spa, a national luxury day spa brand, will open its second Kansas City area location at 15230 W. 119th Street in Northridge Plaza in Olathe. The spa will fill a 6,840-square-foot standalone building at the 119th Street center, joining tenants like Dick's Sporting Goods, ALDI, and Panera Bread. Local husband-and-wife franchisees Mark and Julie Rome will own and operate it, with an opening expected in mid- to late-September 2026. Copaken Brooks, which represented the landlord, announced the lease on June 17.

☕ CURRENT STATE COFFEE ROASTERS OPENS IN A CENTURY-OLD SHAWNEE GAS STATION​

Current State Coffee Roasters opened June 8 at 11217 Johnson Drive in downtown Shawnee, inside a building that started as a 1900s gas station before later runs as an auto shop and a medical office. Owners Nick Robertson, formerly of Messenger Coffee, David Weber, and Josh Greenlee, who owns Seleno Coffee in Overland Park, run it as a combined cafe and roastery open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Early standouts include the caffe nico, an orange latte with Vietnamese cinnamon, plus a hazelnut latte and a house-made limeade. Pastries come from local bakeries Aurora Cafe and Bakery and The Baked Crow.

What you might have missed last week

• ​The Bars KC is celebrating the World Cup with a limited-edition commemorative pint glass, and a portion of every glass sold goes to the Midwest Innocence Project.
• ​Mahalo Mornings, a popular Hawaiian-inspired bakery known from farmers markets in Johnson County, is set to open its first brick-and-mortar location in downtown Olathe by early December at the County Square Commons redevelopment.
• The Crossroads night market has updated its hours and locations.

🏢 DEVELOPMENT SCENE

A SECOND MEGA DATA CENTER WANTS IN NEXT TO DE SOTO'S PANASONIC PLANT

Global developer Digital Realty — which has bought up roughly 1,435 acres in De Soto's Astra Enterprise Park — has floated preliminary plans for "Astra North," calling for nine buildings and two substations on about 280 acres inside the business park that already houses Panasonic's $4 billion EV battery plant. The campus would draw about 600 megawatts of power, enough to run an estimated 450,000-plus homes, and Digital Realty pegs the first phase alone at roughly $4 billion before equipment. It's the second major data center floated for the corridor, following an earlier $3.1 billion-plus project, and together they're fast turning De Soto into the Kansas City area's tech-industrial frontier.

The plans are still preliminary, and that's where the tension sits. Back-to-back hyperscale data centers carry enormous power and water demands, and on the Kansas side that's exactly the kind of strain on the grid and local utilities that tends to draw public debate before any shovel hits dirt.

Where it stands: Digital Realty introduced the preliminary plans to the De Soto City Council on June 4; no formal application has been submitted yet. The company estimates the first phase alone would create more than 1,000 construction jobs and 250-plus full-time positions once operational.

What's next: watch for the rezoning and approval track, and for how De Soto and Johnson County weigh the jobs-and-investment upside against the resource load.

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🎨 ART SCENE

FREE SHAKESPEARE UNDER THE STARS: 'MACBETH' RETURNS TO SOUTHMORELAND PARK

The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival is staging "Macbeth" outdoors at Southmoreland Park, near the Nelson-Atkins, and it's completely free.

Performances run Tuesday through Sunday at 8 PM from June 16 through July 5 — dark on Mondays, with no show July 4.

The June 25 performance is ASL-interpreted. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs, pack a picnic, and settle in for one of KC's signature summer traditions.

Want a guaranteed spot? Premium reserved seats and blanket spaces can be purchased in advance through the festival.

🎶 Make Music Day at Rock Island Bridge

What: Rock Island Bridge is excited to be a host one of the many locations for Make Music Day, Sunday, June 21st, from noon to 11 PM. The festival of music is a full day of live performances from local Kansas City musicians as part of a global celebration of sound. Artists spanning all genres, styles, and abilities will take center stage at locations across the bridge from KCMO to KCK. This community celebration is free and open to the public of all ages.

When: Sunday, June 21, 2026. 12 Noon - 11 PM

Make Music Day on the Rock Island Bridge Schedule

· 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Rock Island Live @ River Garden

· 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Into the Trees @ Bush Landing

· 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Lizzi Leigh @ American Royal Hall

· 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Chris Wenske @ Bush Landing

· 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Dee Debrick @ Bush Landing

· 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Nneoma Lanea @ Bush Landing

· 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Jass @ Bush Landing

· 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Christian Dixon @ Bush Landing

· 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM: Mark Parks @ Bush Landing

Location: Rock Island Bridge,1799 American Royal Drive, KCMO 64102. The Bridge is located above the Kaw River next to Hy-Vee Arena, (formerly Kemper Arena), in the West Bottoms. Entry onto the bridge is from the Missouri side only. Free parking is available on the street or in the Hy-Vee Arena lot, and covered parking is available in the parking garage to the North of the Bridge for $5.

About Make Music Day Kansas City

Make Music Kansas City is a city-wide celebration and part of the global Fête de la Musique, a daylong celebration of sound held annually on June 21st. Aiming to strengthen cultural ties and support local musicians, the entire metro area comes alive with performances on sidewalks, in parks, coffee shops, and venues. The event is free, open to all ages and skill levels, and features every genre imaginable. Learn more at makemusicday.org/kcmo/.

🌃 NIGHTLIFE SCENE

WATCH THE WORLD CUP RIVERSIDE: CURRENT LANDING THROWS ITS FIRST OFFICIAL WATCH PARTIES

Current Landing — the riverfront district right next to CPKC Stadium — hosts its first official World Cup watch parties this weekend, a "relax down by the river," family-friendly alternative to the crush of FanFest and Power & Light. Every match plays on the big screen, and both days stack three back-to-back fixtures.

Sunday, June 21 brings a live DJ (DJ4K), food trucks, the team store, face painting, shaved ice, giveaways — plus player appearances from 3:45–4:45 PM.

Games: Belgium v. Iran (2 PM) · Uruguay v. Cape Verde (5 PM) · New Zealand v. Egypt (8 PM)

Monday, June 22 runs it back with DJ Skittlez, and the timing is pointed: with FIFA FanFest closed that day, Current Landing is the spot to catch Argentina vs. Austria and the rest of the slate.

Games: Argentina v. Austria (12 PM) · France v. Iraq (4 PM) · Norway v. Senegal (7 PM)

Admission is $15, and parking is complimentary with your ticket (Teal Lot).

Want to upgrade? $35 adds unlimited tailgate-style food in the LaCroix Lounge; $65 adds unlimited food and drinks (alcoholic and non).

🏐 SPORTS SCENE

What to Know Before You Go to a FIFA World Cup Match in Kansas City

Kansas City just hosted its first FIFA World Cup match, Argentina vs. Algeria, and after experiencing it firsthand, here are the biggest things you should know before heading to one of the remaining matches.

Kansas City still has three group stage matches, a Round of 32 match, and a quarterfinal between now and mid-July, so if you have tickets, here's what to expect.

The biggest takeaway? Plan for traffic.

This was, by far, the most challenging part of the day.

Parking around the stadium is extremely limited because of FIFA's security perimeter. We actually purchased a parking pass directly across from the stadium, but because of the traffic routing and road closures, we couldn't even get to it. We ended up paying for another parking spot across I-70 and walking the rest of the way.

We weren't alone. It seemed like a lot of fans ran into similar issues.

At one point, shuttle service was temporarily paused because traffic had become so congested, making it difficult to move people efficiently.

Hopefully they'll continue improving traffic flow for the remaining matches, but my advice is simple: give yourself at least three hours before kickoff. Not only will it make getting there less stressful, but you'll actually have time to enjoy everything outside the stadium.

Once you arrive, the atmosphere completely changes.

Before you ever enter Arrowhead, there's an entire FIFA activation area inside the secured parking lots. This is where you'll go through your first security checkpoint and scan your ticket for the first time.

Inside you'll find photo opportunities with the official match ball, sponsor activations, food and drink vendors, merchandise, and thousands of fans from around the world already celebrating.

Argentina and Algeria supporters absolutely transformed the parking lots into one giant pregame party.

Honestly, this is reason enough to get there early.

When you're ready to head into the stadium, you'll go through a second security screening that's very similar to entering a Chiefs game. You'll scan your ticket again before entering.

Inside, much of the stadium feels familiar if you've been to Arrowhead before, but there are FIFA merchandise stores, tournament branding everywhere, and the energy is completely different.

We got to our seats about 45 minutes before kickoff.

Around 30 minutes before the match, both teams came onto the field to warm up. Then came the opening ceremony, giant national flags, player introductions, and the national anthems.

One thing I really appreciated compared to NFL games is how quickly everything moves. Once the ceremonies are over, they get right into the match.

And then the experience becomes something that's hard to describe unless you've been there.

Hearing tens of thousands of fans singing together, watching supporters from different countries celebrate every moment, and feeling that energy inside the stadium is unlike any sporting event I've ever attended.

My son is a huge Lionel Messi fan, so getting to watch him score his first World Cup hat trick while tying the tournament's all-time goals record made it even more unforgettable for our family.

After the final whistle, don't rush out.

One of my favorite parts of the day was watching the fans continue celebrating long after the match ended.

The Argentina supporters stayed packed into their section singing together, while the Algeria fans continued celebrating with their own chants. Even as we were leaving, neither section had really started clearing out.

Outside, the FIFA fan zone remains open for a while, giving everyone another chance to soak in the atmosphere before heading home.

The good news is getting out was surprisingly easy.

We walked back across the bridge, got to our car without much trouble, and were home about 20 minutes later.

If you're heading to one of the remaining World Cup matches in Kansas City, expect some delays getting there, arrive early, and give yourself time to enjoy everything beyond the game itself.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Kansas City, and experiencing fans from all over the world come together for the biggest sporting event on the planet is something you won't forget.

Written by Kyle Talbot

🎯 REAL ESTATE SCENE

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🌆 This Weekend in Kansas City!

🏆 SUMMER GUIDE

Your KC Summer, All in One Place

We put together a 21-page Kansas City Ultimate Summer Guide covering everything you need for summer 2026.
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From World Cup match days and Pride to the best BBQ patios, hidden gems, day trips, free outdoor movies, pet-friendly markets, and a full neighborhood Saturday itinerary.
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Whether you've lived here 20 years or just moved in, there's something in here you haven't tried yet.